Allegiance on film

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 10:59pm

My daughter and I just got back from seeing Allegiance at a movie theater in Danbury, Conn. Unlike the small turnout for She Loves Me, the theater was packed tonight. That was very encouraging. Overall we really liked it. The book was very strong. Actors were terrific. The music was the weak link. It grew monotonous at times. That's a shame. After the film, there was an additional piece with George Takei and the cast discussing the Japanese internment, including shots from his visit to the camp he was put in when he was a young boy. There was a not so subtle warning at the end about the sad possibility of repeating this again.

The audience was very engaged. There was some audible sniffing and sobbing during a few scenes. I admit, some of that was from me.

[catmandoo]

Posted: 12/13/16 at 11:02pm

Agree with what you said. Our theater was quite full, and also had some sniffling... quite a bit from me. I'm sorry to have missed this one when it was on Broadway, but glad it was screened.

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:02am

Our theatre was about 2/3 full - probably 150 people.  Much more than for "She Loves Me."  I thought the importance of the story outweighed its (several) flaws as a piece of theatre.

Yes - some of the lyrics were clumsy.  There were too many self-important ballads with the rising loud notes at the end which all seemed like "wheels of a dream" to me, in style.  The jumps in time just sort of happen - the opening I thought was in August and then, boom, it's December 8?  And then they are off to the camps - but that didn't actually happen for several months.  I didn't feel like most  characters grew or had depth other than Kei, Frankie, Hannah and Tatsuo Kimura (the dad).  My favorite numbers were Resist (I really like the choreography and staging, Higher and Wishes on the Wind.


My biggest issue was that the show couldn't decide if it wanted to have songs and dialog or to be sung-through. It seemed like dialog/recitatives were sung often for no apparent reason and without any consistency. They were sung well - but felt awkward to me.
Telly Leung's Sam is a bit too one note.  I did not like Greg Watanabe's portrayal of Mike Masoaka - it seemed like there was more room for nuance even if the lines were kind of flat - I know the piece makes Masoaka sort of a villain, and I'm not supposed to like him, but my discomfort went beyond dislike of the character.  I really enjoyed Christopheren Nomura's baritone.  George Takei was adequate - but he stepped it up at the end.  I really really liked Katie Rose Clarke's Nurse Hannah.  And then there was Lea Salonga - a woman who just takes her characters and songs to another higher level.  She is so captivating and personable and her portrayal seemed so honest.  She makes the show work as well as it does.  

And yes I got a little teary at the end.  

All in all, I'm really glad they filmed this and I got to see it.  It's an important story told competently if not exceptionally.  It aspired to cover so much ground and viewpoints and certainly gives the audience information to consider and discuss.  

I hope they release this as a DVD so it can be shown in schools.  I would buy a copy.

Random notes:

Did anyone else have the sound double up in the last half of Act Two?- We had an echo which I think started in the Higher reprise and continued on for several minutes.

The filming was kind of odd - with the camera moving a lot at the beginning (and even showing the wings).  There were fades and jump cuts.  I don't know how many live performances in front of an audience were filmed and how much was filmed in an empty theatre.  I think Miss Saigon set a very high standard - and this version did not match that standard.  

The audience applause seemed canned and not the actual applause for various numbers.

I didn't think Telly Leung's "What Makes a Man" in Act One deserved the raucous applause and cheering conveyed on film.   Although this may be unfair because I just saw The Color Purple where Cynthia Erivo gets a well deserved standing ovation for "I'm Here". 

I got in trouble when in the post- show video, the designer says something to the effect that this story has never been presented in the media before - no stage show, movie or television.  I said out loud "wrong" - because the TV movie Farewell to Manzanar addressed this subject in the 1970s. My charming spouse reminded me that we were not at home.    

Updated On: 12/14/16 at 12:02 AM

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:14am

Do you think they will release this on DVD?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:35am

ggersten said: "I got in trouble when in the post- show video, the designer says something to the effect that this story has never been presented in the media before - no stage show, movie or television.  I said out loud "wrong" - because the TV movie Farewell to Manzanar addressed this subject in the 1970s. My charming spouse reminded me that we were not at home.    "

 

There was also the film Come See the Paradise, starring Tamlyn Tomita and Dennis Quaid!

Thank you for your very detailed recap. I saw it twice on Broadway (during previews and a few days before it closed) and didn't get my ticket for this in time. Here's hoping for an encore screening or a BroadwayHD release.

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:59am

I certainly hope they do release it on dvd and blu ray.  I'd be surprised if they didn't.  This seems to be a passion project for all involved and they really want to share the story with as many people as they can ... I'm sure that's one of the main reasons that the decision was made to film it in the first place.  I know, I for one, will be purchasing a copy if it does become available.

P.S. In response to the person who asked if anyone else had noticed an "echo" during part of the 2nd Act ... yes, it was faint and I had to do a double-take to make sure I wasn't imagining it, but there was an issue for a short period.  Other than that our presentation was flawless.

[ren598]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 1:27am

The 7:30 show at the theatre where I saw this was sold out, so they added an 8:00 show.  I quite surprised with the turnout.  Didn't realize there would be so much interest.  I also saw this show live on Broadway and was glad to have the chance to see it again.  The sound did double up at one point in act 2 like some of the others have mentioned.  

I guess I was slightly disappointed with the video quality.  It wasn't as sharp as Miss Saigon or She Loves Me and the audience applause was distracting.  It didn't sound like actual applause and at points cut off too abruptly.  But overall I did enjoy this and hope they release a DVD.

[Pauly3]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 2:58am

The theater I went to had showings on two screens, with the 1st sold out and the 2nd somewhere in the neighborhood of 80% full.  I thought this screening was very good and was not a let down in comparison to the live performance I saw in November, 2015, which I enjoyed very much.  I appreciated the performances even more and think the standouts were definitely Lea Salonga and Michael K. Lee.

Greg Watanabe's portrayal of Mike Masaoka was more conflicted than I recall, perhaps more pronounced due to the much better vantage point on film.  Having previously seen the interview (that is shown in part in the extra feature at the end of the screening) where Greg talks about his family's connection to the real internment camp at Heart Mountain, and where he clearly reveals his sadness and regret regarding his missed chance to talk with those family members about their very real experiences, I really felt the conflict he was displaying was more than just an acting or directorial choice.  It's that sort of connection I see and feel in everyone on that stage that makes this musical a favorite of mine.  Flaws and all.

Regarding the technical aspects, I thought the video quality was not great.  On close ups, of which there are many, the quality of the images was quite fine.  On wide shots though, the picture was dull and even washed out (much of the time).  The sound quality was not great either, but as the show progressed the sound seemed to improve - or I just adjusted.  I have read previously where the Allegiance team has stated a DVD/Blu-ray release was planned, but it probably wouldn't be available for a year or so.  I hope the mastering is a step or six better!

Regarding the sound issue toward the end, I actually thought there was an intended echo effect that started when the 1940's Kei interacts with present-day Sam.  I think the first sound came from the front speakers and the echo or 2nd sound came from side and rear speakers.  It wasn't obvious, so I am not sure.

Overall, I enjoyed the screening and will buy the Blu-ray if/when it is made available.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 6:00am

Wow....surprised to hear of the successful attendance. Isn't that great?  I'll admit I didn't love it on stage (and I wanted to ), but I'm glad so many people seem to be enjoying it, and are given the opportunity to do so!

Updated On: 12/14/16 at 06:00 AM

[Comden Green]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 6:39am

I wonder if I could get responses from some of you with knowledge of the actual camps.   

I found the costumes to be quite distracting and felt that they couldn't possibly have been historically accurate.   In the camps charscters had different outfits for every scene. Clothes always looked stylish colorful, attractive, clean, and were tailored perfectly- great for a stage- but not what I would have expected in internment camps whose 4 year residents had only what they could carry.  

It was quite a disconnect for me and led me to believe that the camps must not have been as bad as I had thought.   

Can i get a few facts?  Accurate or not?  And if not accurate the creators did a great disservice to the history.  

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 8:21am

Wow, I'm surprised by the various reports of soldout showings. The 7:30 p.m. show at my 300-seat theater was practically sold out, so they added an 8 p.m. screening in another theater.

When Fathom Events announced it would be presenting 'Allegiance,' I was skeptical: Who was gonna see a musical about Japanese-American internment camps? Yes, it starred Lea Salonga, but she's not a household name. Yes, it's based on George Takei's life story, but it has nothing to do with 'Star Trek.' Its writers (Jay Kuo, Marc Acito & Lorenzo Thione) are unknown.

I don't know what the ethnic breakdown was at other theaters, but at mine, I'd say 85% of the audience were Asian-Americans. And it was multigenerational. There were a number of families, which consisted of grandparents, parents and their kids. I've never seen an Asian-American turnout like this.

I really enjoyed this filmed version. The closeups helped me appreciate the committed and compelling performances of Lea Salonga, Telly Leung, George Takei and Michael K. Lee even more. The score is too heavy on anthems, but I liked the prettier numbers, like the inspiring 'Gaman'; the beautiful love duet ('With You' ), and the swingy dance tunes ('Resist') .

As for the costumes being historically accurate, the only photos I've seen from the Japanese-Americans internment camps have been in black and white. But I can't say that was an issue for me. If the costume designer (Alejo Vietti) took some artistic liberties with color, it's a Broadway musical, and I doubt anyone wanted to see a cast dressed in gray all the time, covered in dust (which is referenced a number of times in 'Allegiance').

To think 'the camps were not as bad as I thought,' based solely on the costumes, is to miss the larger point: That these were 120,000 fellow Americans who had their civil liberties stripped away from them, due to wartime hysteria and racism. They were forced to live in desolate camps behind barbed wire, watched by guards, and endure bad housing, inadequate health care and poor nutrition. Half of them were kids, incarcerated for up to four years, without due process of law. Even after leaving the camps, they had to struggle to rebuild their lives from scratch. Years later, many internees would still suffer from the psychological damage.

It's a shameful chapter of U.S. history that millions of Americans don't know and shouldn't be forgotten. Even now, there are politicians calling for a roundup of Muslim-Americans, citing the Japanese-American internment as a precedent. 'Allegiance' is historic, even as a piece of theater: It's the first Broadway musical to tackle this topic, and with a largely all-Asian-American team of creators and cast. And yet, here's the irony: What's the ONLY Drama Desk nomination it gets recognized for? Costumes!


Updated On: 12/14/16 at 08:21 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 10:21am

Comden Green said: "I wonder if I could get responses from some of you with knowledge of the actual camps.   

I found the costumes to be quite distracting and felt that they couldn't possibly have been historically accurate.   In the camps charscters had different outfits for every scene. Clothes always looked stylish colorful, attractive, clean, and were tailored perfectly- great for a stage- but not what I would have expected in internment camps whose 4 year residents had only what they could carry.  

It was quite a disconnect for me and led me to believe that the camps must not have been as bad as I had thought.   

Can i get a few facts?  Accurate or not?  And if not accurate the creators did a great disservice to the history.  "

They were that bad, and I was bothered both times I saw Allegiance that there wasn't another set of more worn-out, less colorful costumes for the second act. It was like their clothes never went through any wear and tear while in the camps.

I think this is a legit complaint and I can understand why you might've gone down the line of thinking (that it "wasn't that bad", even if you were well-meaning.

[Terracentric]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 11:10am

I saw it at a small 50-seater (?) theater in San Francisco called Sundance Kabuki. Ten minutes in, staff stopped the film and said it'll be restarted because people were coming in late. I was so pissed I booed the staff and the latecomers. No explanation for the tardiness and no apology. So @&$)! inconsiderate!

Anyway, about the show... the story was heartbreaking and an important one to retelI. I would've preferred as a non-musical though. The music part was formulaic and I thought the lyrics were kind of boring. I did enjoy the cast and their execution of the songs.  I didn't like the way the production was filmed either. Too many things going on with camera work. So distracting. Plus, the sound system was not good in my little theater. As others have commented, there was a faint doubling of the sound near the end. Overall, I'm not inclined to see it again (live or recorded).

Updated On: 12/14/16 at 11:10 AM

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:31pm

Interesting comments, I do agree with a lot of things said.

The costumes seemed inappropriate, more like summer camp than internment camp. A clever designer could have come up with something that was shabby and a bit showy at the same time. As Tim Gunn would say, "Make it work."

Also, during a solo, while Telly Leung was in profile there was an additional shot of him in the lower right corner. That looked like an editing mistake. Overall, the editing was a bit jarring and not as seamless as it was for She Loved Me.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:47pm

Stage Door Sally said: "Interesting comments, I do agree with a lot of things said.

The costumes seemed inappropriate, more like summer camp than internment camp. A clever designer could have come up with something that was shabby and a bit showy at the same time. As Tim Gunn would say, "Make it work.""

Have you seen actual photos of what people wore to (and sometimes at) the camps, though? That part of the show wasn't entirely inaccurate or inappropriate. It might look a little showy to us, but those seemed like nice/normal 1940s fashions.

https://www.nps.gov/media/photo/gallery.htm?id=CA29BB4E-155D-4519-3E5456896E1C2E6C

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/manz/portraits.html

http://hyperallergic.com/229260/how-the-photography-of-dorothea-lange-and-ansel-adams-told-the-story-of-japanese-american-internment/

[kreichelt]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 12:53pm

I really enjoyed (though maybe that's not quite the right word) this show, and I'm very glad it was filmed and broadcast in this way.  I hope the successful showing bodes well for having more of this done in the future (anybody at Falsettos listening??)

I saw this at a sold out 7:30 showing (with an 8:00 show added).  I was surprised about the audio echo issue - seems like something they should have been able to fix (did they record just one show?)   I was generally happy with the filming, and appreciated how great the set must have been live.  I was also wondering about the costumes - they seemed to have some awfully nice dresses, and it didn't strike me as the sort of thing you'd have packed in your one piece of luggage heading off to camp.

I thought the book was better than the music, and I don't know how much I would enjoy just listening to the music by itself - but it totally worked for me as part of the show, and I thought all around the voices and performances were good.  Lea Salonga is just something else...

I would really love to see this released on DVD - I can see this as a great introduction to this dark part of our history in Middle School history classes, and it could not be more timely.  

[Comden Green]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 1:00pm

Lizzy curry.  Thanks for the photos.   Why didn't I think of that?    Clothes really didn't seem bad.   Interesting.  

 

 

[Ceej]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 1:06pm

I was at a showing in Houston. A few notes:

-- I was in a 200 seat theater and it was approximately 2/3 full. I was also surprised that it was probably 95% Caucasian. I expected a lot of Asian attendees and there were practically none. I was, however, very pleasantly surprised by the overall turnout. Many of the audience members applauded at the end of songs and there were lots of gasps during certain moments (trying not to post spoilers).

-- The "echo" was present in our theater but not the "double Telly" shots some reported - sounds like that might have been a transmission issue?

-- There were a few times (especially with the house left camera) that the close-ups were blurry or seemingly out of focus. During a couple of the duets/book scenes where they alternated shots, one was crystal clear while the other was soft, at best, and out of focus at most.

-- The audio quality was terrible. At my theater, the front channel (behind the screen) speakers were the music and vocals while only the (clearly canned) audience was in the surround speakers on the sides and the back. This made the choral and louder parts hard to hear and way overmodulated. I sure hope they fix this for any DVD/Blu Ray release.

-- I really liked the show overall, but agree with the critiques here. The nice clothing did make me wonder and the songs were a bit clunky, especially the narrative singing. But there were also some lovely songs and I felt even with the faults, the show delivered.

Hoping for better quality when "Newsies" hits the theaters in February.

[NYfanfromCA]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 5:06pm

Saw it last night in Mountain View, CA.  It was playing on 5 screens (was originally on 1 screen when I bought tickets in late October).  Parking lot was super crowded, there was a line to get in, etc.  Very exciting for a Tuesday night.  I am not sure how many seats per theater...maybe 250 or so?  Anyhow, it was sold out.  We appreciated seeing the show, even though I thought that the songs were not so great or even needed.  We heard the echo during Act II, also, and the editing/filming/blurry close-ups were a bit distracting.  But Lea Salonga was great, it was good to see George Takei, and we were moved by the story and obvious passion shown by the cast.

 

 

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 5:12pm

Wow, five screens in one theater, amazing! Although the show had its faults, I think its great that George Takei's message is getting out and reaching an appreciative audience. This was his labor of love. This is what he wanted. Good!

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 6:56pm

kreichelt said: "I really enjoyed (though maybe that's not quite the right word) this show, and I'm very glad it was filmed and broadcast in this way.  I hope the successful showing bodes well for having more of this done in the future (anybody at Falsettos listening??)

I saw this at a sold out 7:30 showing (with an 8:00 show added).  I was surprised about the audio echo issue - seems like something they should have been able to fix (did they record just one show?)   I was generally happy with the filming, and appreciated how great the set must have been live.  I was also wondering about the costumes - they seemed to have some awfully nice dresses, and it didn't strike me as the sort of thing you'd have packed in your one piece of luggage heading off to camp.

I thought the book was better than the music, and I don't know how much I would enjoy just listening to the music by itself - but it totally worked for me as part of the show, and I thought all around the voices and performances were good.  Lea Salonga is just something else...

I would really love to see this released on DVD - I can see this as a great introduction to this dark part of our history in Middle School history classes, and it could not be more timely.  

 

"

The echo wasn't there in the Toft recording. So yeah, totally fixable for the DVD/be release

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 12/14/16 at 6:56pm

kreichelt said: "I really enjoyed (though maybe that's not quite the right word) this show, and I'm very glad it was filmed and broadcast in this way.  I hope the successful showing bodes well for having more of this done in the future (anybody at Falsettos listening??)

I saw this at a sold out 7:30 showing (with an 8:00 show added).  I was surprised about the audio echo issue - seems like something they should have been able to fix (did they record just one show?)   I was generally happy with the filming, and appreciated how great the set must have been live.  I was also wondering about the costumes - they seemed to have some awfully nice dresses, and it didn't strike me as the sort of thing you'd have packed in your one piece of luggage heading off to camp.

I thought the book was better than the music, and I don't know how much I would enjoy just listening to the music by itself - but it totally worked for me as part of the show, and I thought all around the voices and performances were good.  Lea Salonga is just something else...

I would really love to see this released on DVD - I can see this as a great introduction to this dark part of our history in Middle School history classes, and it could not be more timely.  

 

"

The echo wasn't there in the Toft recording. So yeah, totally fixable for the DVD/be release