Yuri Speaks Out

Warm, intriguing and relevant to us all, this is a one woman show about a very important woman. ... full review

The show made me curious to learn more about Yuri Kochiyama and how Yuri ties into American history. Ariel did a great job for her performance, and hopefully she can continue to grow more as an artist. ... full review

This play is about the inspirational Civil Rights activist Yuri Kochiyama. Unfortunately, the telling focuses more on the maudlin aspects of her life than the inspirational. I left with only a brief overview of her activist work, with the highlight being holding the head of Malcolm X in her lap after he was shot. I would have much preferred to hear about the speeches she made to rally support for what she believed in, or her fight for Japanese-American reparations for internment. The script is clumsy and the performance is full of nervous giggles and awkward transitions. From her post-show speech, it is obvious that the actress is inspired by this woman and her work. This piece fails to pass that inspiration on.... full review