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Allegiance
George Takei as Sam Kimura and Lea Salonga as Kei
By Julia Polinsky The show’s not called Poor Me, I Was In An Internment Camp During WWII, it’s called Allegiance. It takes a good look at where our allegiances lie: with family, with nation, with heritage, with self.
Directed by the accomplished and dedicated Stafford Arima, Allegiance tells the tale of Japanese-Americans, forcibly interned after Pearl Harbor, and for the duration of World War II, and focuses on the Kimura family’s incarceration at Heart Mountain camp, in Wyoming.
On Pearl Harbor Day, 2001, proud that his uniform still fits, World War II veteran Sam Kimura (George Takei) prepares to take part in the memorial ceremonies, when he receives news that his estranged sister has died, and left him an envelope full of memories.
Flashback: In 1941, Sammy Kimura (Telly Leung) returns from college to the farm and the family: his father, Tatsuo (Christopheren Nomura), grandfather, Ojii-chan (Takei), and older sister Kei (Lea Salonga). Their lives change, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and the Kimuras are sent to a Japanese internment camp, Heart Mountain in Wyoming.
Telly Leung and company images by Matthew Murphy
Sammy, eager to prove his loyalty to the US, repeatedly tries to enlist in the army, only to be rejected because of his “yellow face.” He also meets and falls in love with the blond Hannah Campbell (Katie Rose Clarke), a nurse at the camp. Kei falls in love with someone equally unsuitable, the opposite of Sammy: Frankie Suzuki (Michael K. Lee), the camp resistance leader.
Lea Salonga as Kei, George Takei as Sam Kimura and Telly Leung as Young Sam
The head of the Japanese American Citizens League, Mike Masaoka (Greg Watanabe), appears from time to time throughout Allegiance Masaoka helps Sammy in his struggle to enlist, and later, offers post-war work to the decorated hero Sammy has become. But Sammy’s return is not all sweetness and light. His family has changed their ideas and allegiances. Harsh words are said; he rejects his family and goes off to work for Mike Masaoka.
Back to present times: Sam attends his sister’s funeral, where he recognizes the importance of allegiance to the family he’s avoided for decades.
George Takei, who stars as Sam Kimura and Ojii-chan, was himself interned during the war; his experiences inspired the show. For that matter, it’s possible that, without Takei, Allegiance might never have gotten past a “hey kids, let’s put on a show” conversation. The subject of the internment camps is difficult for America and Americans. However, years ago, Takei started promoting Allegiance on his hugely popular Facebook page (nine million “likes” and if you don’t think that’s clout, think again). The result Allegiance on Broadway.
Fortunately, the show’s worth it. Barring the banal score, Allegiance rewards the audience over and over. The writers (book by Marc Acito, Jay Kuo, and Lorenzo Thione) are wise to take a dark tale about a difficult time in US history, and make it about family, as well as patriotism, nationalism, loyalty.
An old-fashioned musical, Allegiance has boy-meets-girl, separation, reunion, reconciliation, and a flashback for framework. It puts stock characters into play: Stern Father; Rebellious Son; Faithful Daughter; Simple Geezer; Conflicted WASP Nurse; Attractive Bad Boy; Evil Government Guys.
So, sounds like nothing new here. Why does it work? Heart, heart, and more heart. The B-movie tropes keep on coming, yet they’re treated with a respect and sweetness that makes them feel fresh. The cast and production team have dedicated themselves to “Allegiance”, and it shows, in spite of the difficult subject.
How difficult? Well. Among the ideas explored in the show: racism and jingoism, for starters. Then there’s incarceration without due process, Pearl Harbor, shame, guilt, treason, death, and Hiroshima. Good thing there’s also love, loyalty, dedication, persistence, more love, endurance with dignity, forgiveness, and reconciliation. And more love.
Some excellent performances keep the show engaging. The two leads are, of course, George Takei and Lea Salonga. Takei, appealing and touching in his two roles, appears comfortable on stage, and his Ojii-Chan stays lovable, never morphs into caricature. Lea Salonga sings beautifully, dances delightfully, and makes Kei Kimura’s conversion from shy sister to political rebel credible. Terry Leung’s terrific energy and excellent singing give the young Sammy Kimura massive appeal. Michael K. Lee, as the political rebel, Frankie Suzuki, is a revelation: this exciting, charismatic, hugely talented singer and dancer should have a major, major career on Broadway. His kickass performance of “Paradise” is a highlight of the show. Another knockout performer: Christophere Nomura, as the father, Tatsuo Kimura. He sings the roof off the theater; wow, what a voice, and what a singer.
It’s a pity they don’t have better music to work with. Barring the lovely “Ishi Kara Ishi” and funny, edgy, bitter “Paradise,” much of the rest of Jay Kuo’s score is utterly forgettable. The show deserves better.
The scenic design, by Donyale Werle, works beautifully, using Japanese-influenced constructions and projections (by Darrel Maloney) to create time and place; their evocation of Hiroshima was particularly moving. Andrew Palermo did the excellent choreography; costumes by Alejo Vietti and wigs by Charles G. LaPointe were perfectly in keeping with time and place.
Allegiance: even with a dull score and stock characters, the ideas are so important, and the performers so engaging, it’s well worth seeing.
Allegiance Longacre Theatre 220 W. 48th Street, New York, NY Digital lottery: http://allegiancemusical.com/lottery/#zp7z2HPirUsSDzxR.97 Student tickets available: 
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