Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jeanine Tesori and David Henry Hwang throw the kitchen sink in SOFT POWER, to head-spinning effect

• By drediman
• October 16, 2019
• No Comments

Conrad Ricamora and Alyse Alan Louis in Jeanine Tesori and David Henry Hwang’s “Soft Power” at the Public Theater. Photo by Craig Schwartz.

Also last night, Soft Power – the totally interesting and highly anticipated collaboration between the Tony-winning pair of Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home) and David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly) – opened Off-Broadway at the Public Theater after enjoying a world premiere run at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco earlier this year. The self-professed “play with a musical” is an apt description of this Babushka Doll of a musical. In essence, Soft Power is a speculative musical that satirizes American-Chinese relations vis-à-vis theater and politics. In the process, it seriously questions established constructs of democracy and art (commercial and otherwise).

Where to begin to assess this singular musical, in which its creators seem to have basically thrown the kitchen sink, and then some. Worlds collide in Soft Power, and it isn’t always neatly accomplished. Past meets present meets future. Reality meets fever dream. Fact meets fiction (Xue Xing, a fictitious Chinese theater producer, and post-election Hillary Clinton play lovers in the show!). Competing political philosophies mash up. In theatrical terms, the piece touts itself to be both play and musical, and even in its musical theater mode, the vocabulary is intentionally shifty. And of course, East meets West in world-shaking ways. There’s so much to soak in from this head-spinning musical fantasia that it may appear upon first glance that Mr. Hwang and Ms. Tesori have not fully thought things through. Only time and further analysis will uncover a master plan.

But is it any good? If you can’t already tell, I’m still struggling to articulate my feelings about the show. Despite the intense deluge of ideas and their inversions (courtesy mainly of playwright Hwang, whose own life is used as a springboard for the whole affair), Soft Power doesn’t quite gel dramatically, coming across more like a rigorous intellectual exercise rather than opting to directly appeal to the heart. Much of the emotion comes from Ms. Tesori’s wonderful pastiche score, which sounds simply glorious as played by a luxurious 20-piece onstage orchestra. As for the cast, it includes many of the heavy-hitting Asian American talents in the industry, including the handsome Conrad Ricamora (as Xue Xing) and the ever-expressive Francis Joe (as David Henry Hwang’s stand-in). As Hillary, Alyse Alan Louise bears a striking resemblance to a younger should-be President and performs with bright charisma. Compliments also go to the hardworking, all-Asian American ensemble, who sing and dance with polish and pizzazz.

RECOMMENDED

SOFT POWER
Off-Broadway, Musical
The Public Theater
2 hours, 15 minutes (with one intermission)
Through November 10