"Vietgone" A Comedic Drop-in on the Viet Nam Conflict at MTC

A comedy about the Viet Nam War sounds unseemly.  "Vietgone" does away with political correctness and its wry, fast paced humor will annihilate your defenses should you surrender to this prickly & poignant play.  The cleverly staged production at Manhattan Theater Club is set in 1975.   The drama begins with the pandemonium of the last evacuation & fall of Saigon.   The play is bookend by the playwright (played with earnest humor by Paco Tolson.) The playwright starts with a comedic disclaimer to any characters portrayed as factual and any similarities, coincidental.   The ending is a touching interview between the playwright and his father, Quang (an excellent Raymond Lee) The son is asking his father for his account of the Viet Nam War.  The father's witticism turns into a fury that pulls together the play's solmen intent.  American/Viet Namese playwright, Qui Nguyen was born in AZ to parents who met in a refugee camp after being airlifted out of Viet Nam.  Tolson tells us "This is not a war story.  This is a love story."  In truth, it's an amalgamation of both with added heart, humor, satire and rap.  This unlikely, likeable play is set within the time warp of the 70's.  It's astute construct brandishes between Viet Nam, the confines of a refugee camp and the open roads between AZ & CA.  Viet Namese buddies Quang & Nhan form a pair of "Easy Rider"parodies; just one of the many eccentric, serious & silly scenarios.  Quang's love interest in the camp is Tong, a self-proclaimed bitch (played winningly by Jennifer Ikeda.)  Tong escapes the Viet Cong along with her overbearing mother (Samantha Quan) played intentionally over the top for laughs.  This politically incorrect play gets so many things right.  It gives us plenty to ponder regarding refugees, wars' brutalities, family & love in its many free forms.  All kidding aside, this funny & thoughtful play played for laughs, looms as an insightful perspective on the Viet Nam era; errors made and wisdom gained.