why I loved ALLEGIANCE | the charing cross theatre London musical UK premiere starring George Takei

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OHMYGOD HEY!
This week I was invited to see the gala night performance of Allegiance at the Charing Cross Theatre in London.
The show, which was previously seen on Broadway stars George Takei in a story inspired by his own life alongside Telly Leung.
Check out today's brand new review video for my thoughts on this show and find out why I disagreed with many of the critics...
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#theatre #london #musical #georgetakei

[@jennipherlewis3221]

I saw this In San Diego when it premiered at the Old Globe in 2012. Took my performing arts high school students to see a school matinee show. It was incredible. At the climactic moment for George Takei there was an audible gasp from the audience. At the end of the show the entire front row flashed the Vulcan sign for Live Long and Prosper for George Takei, causing him to point and laugh. It was a show that many students remembered for years afterwards. I am so pleased that it lives on and is making an impact on theater goers across the ocean.

[@emilyyyyy13]

I’ve loved this musical since I watched it when they streamed it to movie theaters. You could hear everyone crying after. I’m so glad it’s getting new life, and I’m pulling out my dvd to watch it today. It’s not a perfect musical, and I’ve had critiques, but it’s an emotional part of history that is rarely talked about

[@maurinet2291]

I've heard this was happening and hoped you'd get to see it! They filmed a Broadway performance and showed it as a movie in VERY select theaters once a year for a few years, I was lucky enough to go to one of those. I enjoyed it and was sorry its Broadway run was relatively short. So glad it's getting another shot!

[@callalily3994]

It's also on BroadwayHD.

[@labellavita12]

I'm not sure if it's in the broadway on demand but i just saw it recentlly. Even the behind the scenes were there.

[@bunji_beans]

I've been following this musical since George Takei first announced it was in the works. I so wish I could've seen it on Broadway! But I did have the pleasure of seeing it in LA, one other time locally, and the proshot multiple times in theaters. I'm glad it's onstage again across the pond and hope it does well!

[@mrcsmith386]

I saw this musical 3 weeks ago on its last run and we go to sing happy birthday to George takei and we got a free drink afterward with the cast

[@canitbechristine]

I saw this on Broadway and thought it was powerful. I’m not one to cry in public but I all out ugly cried at one point.

[@DaniTryn]

I saw the pro-shot when it was in US theaters a few years ago and LOVED it - Telly Leung was AWESOME in this role!!! So glad it's found a new place for a new production!

[@margaretrousseau3783]

your thoughts on this are super interesting bc I've seen the pro shot of it twice and honestly, I think the show has a lot of flaws (though it has been a while since I've seen it, and obviously watching a recording isn't the same as seeing the production). As you said, the lyrics are very on the nose, regardless of character and situation.. If a song has a metaphor, then its a heavy-handed one. I also think the pacing is weird and I wish the audience had more of a understanding of the time passing in the show. Obviously, you can figure out some of it (WW2 was a real event after all), but things like how long characters have known each other, how long they're in the camp before Sam decides to liven up the camp, how long their father is in jail, etc. Contrary to what you said, I felt like all the relationships are rushed, especially San and Hannah. We see them meet but then we don't really get an idea of how long they've known each other before they get together (also how are they seeing each other?? is he just going to the nurses' office every day?? If so, do none of the guards or other prisoners think its weird?? I think there's a lot there that is unexplored). Sorry for the long comment, I just have a lot of thoughts about the writing in this show bc it is such an important event but I personally don't think it delivers on the issue as much as it could.

[@gailseatonhumbert]

Thank you, a very thorough review. George Takei just mentioned he was in London performing this while doing his usual US political commentary. I had not found the DVD of the musical to really draw you in emotionally and am glad that it now seems to do so. Takei is such an amazing man whose life is such an amazing story.

[@fletcherhc653]

Glad you liked it. I thought this production was beautifully made. Mickey, I highly recommend you get hold of the DVD of the filmed Broadway production with the original cast so you can see how it was staged on Broadway.

[@labellavita12]

I saw this one with Lea Salonga. They have a proshot of their broadway production and her voice is gorgeous. I hope you could check that out.

[@izumi.yoshida7]

This review convinced me to book tickets a couple weeks back - and having just got back, I genuinely think it's one of my favourite shows ever. I just watched it earlier today & it's some of the most captivating theatre I've ever had the pleasure to see. Aynrand Ferrer in particular blew me away, and her individual performance is probably a Top 3 all time one for me - with virtually the entire cast being standouts. Could not be more glad that I went to see it.

[@clarecook1279]

Went to see this last week for my birthday, and it was every bit as good as I expected after watching your review. I laughed, I cried, and I got the chance after the show to get my programme signed by the cast which was a real treat. George Takei seemed quite pleased that he made me cry. 😆

[@wichegirl]

Saying this as someone who's Japanese-American and studied the internment (though never had family interned), not having a person of Asian descent be the director isn't necessarily a problem. The era is commonly mischaracterized, including by Allegiance's own production! The musical is written by Americans of Asian descent (not Japanese) and its initial production received a lot of criticism from Japanese-Americans for inaccuracies (seems like these have been fixed for this staging though). So just being Asian doesn't equal knowing/understanding the experience of Japanese-Americans during internment. Knowing/understanding the era is more important than being of Asian descent, so the current director who you said has been with various productions of it for 10 years, speaking with Takei (whose parents were interned), would make me think she could be sensitive to and knowledgeable of the reality of that era (and it sounds like she was) despite not being of Asian descent.

[@josephensworth7044]

Have you watched the filmed version? I'm obsessed with this show. Been following it since 2010. It's beautiful, powerful, and emotional. It is stunning!

[@izumi.yoshida7]

This convinced me to go and see Allegiance - I've been planning a few days of a stagey trip to London, but Allegiance isn't one I was familiar with at all. But hearing about what the musical is and the support I've seen for it, I had to see it for myself. The more I hear about it, the more I just get excited about it, even compared to other shows I've known about for longer and have been on my wishlist for a while.

[@alvinmedina7121]

such a fan of Allegiance . George Takei is awesome . love the cast I'm in nyc saw it on broadway . it deserved more here . Lia slayed

[@carolinegroom3415]

Watched this afternoon- Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!’ Great summary!

[@DavidPaulMorgan]

I was at the Charing Cross theatre the other month watching From Here to Eternity . I like the half-and-half seating. I've seen Allegiance via Broadway Hd screening. However I am so looking forward to seeing this 'live'.

[@SharkVaderYT]

I saw this musical yesterday, at charing cross theatre. I absolutely loved it, definitely the most emotional musical that I have seen.

[@richardseaman4947]

Managed to see this at the weekend and it really did surpass all expectations. Sadly the theatre was half empty which meant I got bumped up to the front row from the back row. At least I got to see the gorgeous Telly Leung close up ❤

[@cassandrabellingham8486]

We have tickets for mid February. Really glad to see this review

[@kazza6078]

"It tells a story of a dark and unforgivable chapter of american history" such a bummer how little this phrase alone narrows it down.

[@aschmarkl]

I saw it in New York. I really liked it. Great cast and an important story

[@kazza6078]

This is a great and informative review, and not too detailed with some much information, great balance of telling us about the show without telling us every single thing about the show, which is surely what I would do lol

[@patandray2925]

Another great review - thank you. Interested to hear about the theatre having just purchased tickets for Rebecca in November. Hope you will get to see and review Rebecca and create a video touching on the history and controversy surrounding this show as well as reviewing the production🤞

[@penhallj]

This has made me really want to see this. I always enjoy the Charring Cross Theatre even with the constant train rumbling overhead!

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

If you're lucky, the timing of the rumbling can sometimes be unintentionally atmospheric! 😅

[@grahamb8994]

Hi good to see you enjoyed the show. Have had pleasure of seeing versions of the show as it progressed from workshop in 2011 to present production. Only one thing would disagree with is your comment about making some scenes more meaningful. When the take the wishes off the tree they tied them to their clothes and they became their identification on the way to camp. Possibly you missed this. Love all your videos, look forward to see what 2023 brings. ❤

[@kazza6078]

Oo I didn't know there was a proshot! I'd love to see this show.

[@labellavita12]

Yes there is, with the original cast George Takei, Lea Salonga and Telly Leung.

[@daveford12]

I wonder if this will resonates with anyone who had grandparents or parents who were interned in the UK in the 1940’s

[@SMF24601]

I'd be interested to know if there were changes to the music for this production from the original version. I unfortunately came away from the Broadway production feeling fairly lukewarm about the show, I thought that the performances and the book were incredible but that the show as a whole was let down by a fairly mediocre score, to the point where I thought it would have been better to have staged this story as a straight play rather than a musical.

[@ThisSingleMom]

I saw this in NY and really liked it. Glad it's getting a second chance.

[@alvinmedina7121]

yes

[@IshScout]

Luckily we have a easily accessible pro shoot available but I'd encourage those able to see the show while it's playing to do so.

[@emilyhill5920]

Mickey I've just messaged you on Instagram. Is it too much to see this after a Hamilton matinee? It sounds so good and is leaving in April. Or would I be better seeing something less serious. 🤔

[@btomimatsucunard]

I liked Allegiance, but for me its not a perfect showcase of Internment, especially from the POV of another family that was interned. Personally I think the story is a bit too chunky and tries to fit way to much of what happened during the camps into a singular show. Like, I think the show has some great moments, but certain elements don't jive quite as well. For me, I personally like Takei's graphic novel much more as a piece on internment rather than the musical.

[@margaretrousseau3783]

I definitely agree that the book is clunky, one of the strangest parts is when the baby in the ensemble dies and then we have a upbeat song about baseball. I often think when shows/media are about a "untold" story, writers have an instinct to try to cover everything so that people can be aware of the the event in question. The issue is then it feels like every single thing that could happen in the interment camps/war needs to happen in the show, but the show would be better off just focusing on a couple aspects.

[@btomimatsucunard]

@@margaretrousseau3783 Agreed. Like a lot happened during the camps, with a lot of different view points on the whole thing. I kinda wish the book had just a few more rounds of edits, just to hone it in a bit.

[@kitstratfull4606]

Did you know we had interment camps in the UK during WW1 for German and Austrian males living in the UK most famously at Alexandra Palace and during WW2 for Italian males on the Isle of Man

[@misskit123]

Massive Trekkie over here. I have to go, don't I?! I wonder if it will suffer from being billed directly after From Here to Eternity.

[@meredithchandler73]

I watched the film of the broadway production. I really liked it a lot but I wish the music was a little better. There are some good songs, but overall it’s a forgettable score. It is an important time in American history that isn’t taught or talked about enough. P.S. Lea’s name is pronounced LAY-ah.

[@0530evan]

interesting show...... yes...theatre was TOO LARGE for it....... and the show just did not DRAW an audience.

[@Gnostic72]

MickeyJo IF you loved it that much why do you have, “The Critics Are Wrong” as a title? It’s misleading & kind of smacks of “yellow journalism” don’t you think? What is for CLICK BAIT? Please explain.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

When I filmed this video it was in response to the largely 2 and 3 star reviews from major outlets.