Late Blooming is one of those shows that gets lost in too many undeveloped plots and the need to create the “proper” length for a “proper” one act. It begins with Libao (Timmy Ong) meeting with his childhood friend, Shan (Stephanie Gong) seemingly meeting in Libao’s Manhattan apartment and dealing with Libao’s writer’s block and need to tell his parents that he is gay. Both of these, his being a writer and being gay, Libao are sure will disappoint his first generation immigrant parents. That gives us two plots. They concoct the story that Shan will pretend to be his girlfriend and satisfy the parents need to have the “successful” son they need. The hole in the story is that Libao has already been a successful author, writing semi-autobiographical short stories and a best selling novel that someone would have introduced his parents to.

When we get to the parents home in Queens we discover that Shan, a realtor, has designs on the parents and the entire neighborhood’s homes as she makes an unconvincing argument that the families will be “better-off” in a neighborhood other than the one they have lived in for decades. (of course, she also tells us if they don’t accept her “generous” offer, they’ll be forced out at less favorable terms). Somehow Libao is now living with his parents and seems to want them to pay him if they sell and move.

Libao has a “need” to return to Taiwan because Taipei has legalized same-sex marriage.  He has the apparent fantasy that that has somehow changed social attitudes.  He estranges himself from his parents based more on his fantasy than their actual rejection once they finally learn about his homosexuality from his second book.

Finally, we have on overlong epilog (always a bad idea, except in the rarest circumstances) which is supposed to be important to describe how the parents are adjusting to Libao’s self-imposed isolation, and their (impending?) move to Long Island. All of which fails to advance the story of Libao at all.

Solid direction and good acting make Late Blooming tolerable, but I’m afraid the flower is wilted.