There is a ripple of applause as Allegiance opens with George Takei strolling onstage. The West End is filled with stars, and on any given evening yow will discover Hollywood royalty treading the boards. But it is a little totally different. This is a bona fide legend. At 85 years outdated, Takei is making his West End debut to inform a narrative loosely impressed by his life – not by his a long time of famously taking part in Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, however by his childhood, when he and his household, as Japanese Americans, had been interned throughout World War II. Takei performs…
Rating
Excellent
A powerfully shifting story, shining with the very presence of George Takei
There is a ripple of applause as Allegiance opens with George Takei strolling onstage. The West End is filled with stars, and on any given evening yow will discover Hollywood royalty treading the boards. But it is a little totally different. This is a bona fide legend. At 85 years outdated, Takei is making his West End debut to inform a narrative loosely impressed by his life – not by his a long time of famously taking part in Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, however by his childhood, when he and his household, as Japanese Americans, had been interned throughout World War II.
Takei performs two roles. First, he’s the older Sammy, a US Army veteran, in a framing system that locations us within the current earlier than going again in time to his recollections. There, youthful Sammy is performed by Telly Leung, and Takei performs Ojii-Chan (‘grandfather’). Leung is great. Far from being forged for a resemblance to a youthful Takei, his expertise is apparent and he exudes confidence and charisma. His relationship with sister Kei (Aynrad Ferrer) drives the center of the play. Despite the setting of a focus camp, the story is about love and loss, romance discovered inside the camp and the love and battle in a household. While the title and setting counsel allegiance to nation or to flag, Allegiance is simply as within the complicated relationships between household and the breakdown and devisive battle.
The story is at instances corny, clichéd and predictable. The character of the white nurse taking part in saviour is eye-rolling (Megan Gardiner is nevertheless spectacular and humorous!) however rather a lot is tackled with at the very least some nuance. The play lays out causes for the differing opinions among the many youthful Japanese internees who both resolve to affix the US Army and ‘prove’ their loyalty, or refuse to collaborate whereas their dad and mom and household are locked up for nothing lower than racism. Sammy is considerably oversimplified, boiled right down to a gung-ho ‘we must join the army’ determine, however his future brother-in-law Frankie (Patrick Munday) has extra depth along with his reasoning to refuse the draft. Allegiance is cautious to allow us to perceive each positions and the divide between them. It doesn’t want so as to add something extra to an announcement that because the camps shut, the internees are allowed dwelling with solely a bus ticket and $25.
The songs are, sadly, a bit forgettable however the music is energetic and dramatic, filling the small Charing Cross Theatre properly. To spotlight simply two standout performances; Ferrer is marvellous, exhibiting the affect of the household divide and shining each time she sings. Then, in direction of the tip of the primary act, Frankie involves the forefront and Munday exhibits an distinctive singing voice. The songs themselves, nevertheless, fade away, though clear efforts to include Japanese music and themes are very welcome. Occasional moments stick within the reminiscence with music and visuals fairly than track, notably the depiction of the bombing of Hiroshima.
There is not any query that Allegiance advantages from its full title; George Takei’s Allegiance and from his presence. Takei seems each bit as brilliant, pleasant and likeable as his social media presence and campaigning suggests, and his funding in wanting to inform this story resonates. While Allegiance may not be a smash hit ot a note-perfect piece of musical theatre, it greater than succeeds in permitting Takei and firm to lift consciousness of his story and people horrible instances, warning us once more of the hazards of seeing folks by the color of their pores and skin or their ethnicity. Takei considers this his legacy venture; he has spent a long time telling his story. Having such a legend from stage and display screen presenting this as a profoundly private story is enormously highly effective and shifting.
Music & Lyrics by: Jay Kuo
Book by: Marc Acito, Jay Kuo & Lorenzo Thione
Directed and Choreography by: Tara Overfield Wilkinson
Musical Supervision and Orchestration by: Andrew Hilton and Charlie Ingles
Set and Costume Design by: Mayou Trikerioti
Lighting Design by: Nic Farman
Sound Design by: Chris Whybrow
George Takei’s Allegiance performs at Charing Cross Theatre till 8 April 2023. Further data and bookings might be discovered right here.