What I liked
The scope of this play is incredible. Paper Flowers explores dual timelines, past trauma, survival, and taking a stand for what is right. Alli isn’t afraid to tackle what it means to be an American. How can you give the ultimate sacrifice to a country that doesn’t see you as a human? It is a beautiful journey that is meant to be experienced. The story brought me to tears, as the performances from every single one of the actors were perfect. Miley Yamamoto in particular gave a touching and beautiful rendition of Nanami Nishiyama. Her performance as the matriarch of her family was steeped in humility with a strong moral compass as she navigated the complex scenarios that unfolded.
What I didn't like
I would have liked to have the speaker that played the phone ring positioned physically near stage right. It was a little distracting hearing the sound ring on the opposite side of the stage that the phone physically existed in.
My overall impression
An absolute stunner of a show. A heart wrenching but beautiful story about family history and standing up for what is right. Taking place under the looming shadow of both the Vietnam war and Japanese interment camps, Alli challenges the audience to question if they themselves are on the right side of history.
This is a must see show and everyone involved should be immensely proud of what they put on stage.
