Generation N

This is the last weekend to see Song of a Nisei Fisherman, a thoughtful and effective studio production of San Francisco playwright Philip Kan Gotanda’s autobiographical family drama by Interactive Asian Contemporary Theater. It’s about a man born in rural Hawaii to uneducated parents (who long to return to Japan). Against their wishes, he goes to college and becomes a doctor, eventually settling in California’s Central Valley, marrying, and raising kids (who bear little resemblance to their immigrant grandparents). The family dynamics—reflected through three generations—are finely drawn and reflect the changes that ripple through lives, as the link to the old country grows distant and the personal work ethic and family model shifts to an American standard. The quality of acting is variable, and (as ever with InterACT productions) the technical details could be better. But several scenes are quite magical, like the one in which Sonny Alforque sings about sake, or when Jeffrey Ogata courts his future wife at a Stockton Buddhist Temple social function. The music (by a trio including koto and shakuhachi) is a nice touch. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays, at the Broadway Playhouse, 4010 El Camino Ave. $10-$12. (916) 452-6174. Through May 27.