A formulaic but moving story about a demanding Korean immigrant father and the ways his two almost-grown sons cope with and rebel against him while coming to terms with their own identity. While on a road trip from Arizona to Durango, Colorado revelations about each character are surfaced somewhat predictably in the highly tense atmosphere of the family car. The writing sometimes feels realistic, especially during all-too-recognizable tropes of family conflicts, but all-too-often falls into cliché about overachieving first-generation kids and the parents who push them too hard. What the show lacks in originality, however, it makes up for in moments of humor and real pathos when the dialogue does connect, with a few truly powerful interactions that make up for the rest. Great acting all around, with a particularly convincing Dawn Wang as the rebellious, slacker son. One only wishes the actors had a little more material to work with. The technical aspect of the show deserves special mention, with truly inspired artistic direction and engaging use of the set. (Monica Westin)
At the Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington, (888)745-5849. This production is now closed.
Related Stories
Polarized in Paradise: A Review of “Cabin Fever” at Adamson Road Theatre Company Four couples have gathered together for a weekend retreat designed to strengthen their marriages and reset their moral and spiritual compasses, under the soothing, cliché-laden guidance of the oh-so-happily married pair that owns the rustically cozy lodge.
Stiff Upper Lip: A Review of "London Road" at Shattered Globe This British musical seems to pull off the impossible. The mesmerizing but highly complex score requires singers and musicians who can manage its intricate rhythms with precision and still act their songs in the guise of the mostly-lower-middle-class English city dwellers they portray.
