Soft Power

See it if some nice tunes derivative of known Broadway musicals. Nice sets. Ricamora is the only saving grace.

Don't see it if Other than Ricamora, the acting is really not great. This is aimless and all over the place. What is the plot?

Also It's like they had picked catchy songs from Broadway musicals (King & I, Musica Man, Chorus Line etc.), changed enough the tune to not be the same but at the same time be easily recognizable by the audience and were in search of a story to stitch it together. (which they threw together at the last minute, 1 quarter baked)
It was baffling and all over the place. This was clearly not ready for audiences.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see an original musical. It's well intentioned.

Don't see it if Show was all over the place. First Act has some strange musical numbers like the Hillary Clinton burlesque number in McDonalds... Strange.

See it if If you want to see something original at the public. It gets confusing at times to what they try to portray in the show.

Don't see it if If you dont like light weight. It's nothing great. As lite as Hillary and the Hillary at Mc Donalds.

See it if Musical satire showing a warped version of US culture from a Chinese perspective. Lush music w/full orchestra & strong vocals.

Don't see it if No real plot; a collection of SNL-like sketches. Repeated themes get tiresome: guns, democracy, romantic love vs familial duty.

Also The song I liked best featured a dejected Hillary Clinton bingeing on pizza and ice cream.... Read more Read less

See it if u want to see a very meta geopolitical musical that takes on Hwang's very real personal trauma & America's very real political drama.

Don't see it if u hope for a new work of genius from this powerhouse creative team; ur not prepared to accept an overstuffed but half-baked work-in-progress

Also Act I is a confusing, self-indulgent, awkward mess of styles, stories, perspectives & messages. So much so that even the creative team realized the need for an explanatory Act II opening scene. Once they've dispensed of the clarification, the rest of the musical turns out to be a pretty clever (& sometimes obvious) satire.
Also, it's very refreshing to see a talented all-Asian ensemble deliver this message about US-China relations & the Chinese perspective on US politics.... Read more Read less

See it if Tesori's lush score, Silverman's robust staging & Ramos' lavish designs all conspire to strengthen Hwang's interesting but overstuffed drama

Don't see it if A horrible opening segment gradually opens up to reveal a panoramic view of America & it's discontents Political & personal never quite gel

See it if Grand is the musical-play that seeks to engage the target audience it singles out to indict:USA leads culture after rescuing the unaware.

Don't see it if Meta multi-genred yellow perspective of the white worldview using accepted Asian cliches are deterrents to serving both involved parties.

Also Could "Power" turn on Peoria and Beijing?

See it if you are a fan of original musical theatre pieces. This is not based on a movie from the 80's or 90's.

Don't see it if you are easily confused. There is a lot going on, so concentration is imperative.

Also This is a very ambitious musical. It can get cloudy at times, but stay with it.

A 20-piece orchestra! One of the best ensembles currently in NYC.

Francis Jue is a national treasure!... Read more Read less

See it if A nearly all-Asian cast turns the cliches we sadly have about Asia on its head, while addressing real world issues. Great music.

Don't see it if If you're an American who can't take a joke about some of our most cherished traditions, you might not like this.

See it if see notes

Don't see it if see notes

Also It might have been better calling this musical SOFT BALL. It is lightweight and self indulgent. There is LUSH music, interesting sets, great singing and if you don't leave after the first act you might leave feeling entertained. Lyrics are either silly or beautiful depending on the song. Slightly based in fact and emulating The King and I from a Chinese perspective, the concept is good. It goes off the rails with the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton and biased thugs that are outrageous caricatures.... Read more Read less

See it if A musical within a play that reverses The King and I problems, a variety of songs that seem to reference other musicals incl. My Fair Lady

Don't see it if you don't like busy and glitz, too much going on,too many points, political humor

Also Some people laughed loudly and a few left at intermission. Second half was very disappointing.... Read more Read less

See it if you’d enjoy a unique take on being an American when America doesn’t always see you or treat you as such or you like political humor w/depth.

Don't see it if you are prone to white fragility & will behave like that pressed white girl angry that she didn’t see herself represented in Slave Play. :b

Also Slightly uneven but definitely worthwhile.

See it if ...political & personal reaction to a physical attack & 2016 election done up in song & dance w references to The King & I attracts you

Don't see it if ...you expect finished product. Plot needs editing, lead actress seems weary, too many directions for 105 minute show. 1st act entertaining.

See it if As an Asian American, moved to watch a stage full of Asian American cast singing and performing in a distinctly Chinese-American story.

Don't see it if Satire about current state of America annoys you, esp. in comparison with China. Guns, white supremacy, tiki torches are triggering.

Also Diversity: all Asian American cast except for one white female actor.
Ticket from TodayTix online rush for $27.50.... Read more Read less

See it if You enjoy satire, The King and I, and musicals. This had it all. Aspects of this play were clever and it was great to see an all Asian cast

Don't see it if If you expect a coherent script as this was not. I do commend the Public Theater for taking a chance on this play as it was something new.

See it if and only if you are a fan of playwright David Henry Hwang.

Don't see it if you were expecting a play as powerful as M. Butterfly because you will be disappointed.

Also Wikipedia defines the term SOFT POWER as the ability to attract and co-opt, rather than coerce. In other words, SOFT POWER involves shaping the preferences of others through appeal and attraction. How ironic that the definition of the concept of SOFT POWER is totally opposite how I feel about the play which calls itself by the same words. I have been a admirer of the work of David Henry Hwang ever since I was his masterpiece play M. Butterfly back in the fall of 1988. This new play of his was my re introduction to his work only this time, it did not move me in the way M. Butterfly did. I was bored and disappointed by Soft Power. It struggled to keep myself interested in the play. Oh well!... Read more Read less

See it if First act found me open mouthed, laughing at one amazing scene after another. Outspoken about status of Asian Americans in US, political

Don't see it if you want a traditional musical, non-challenging, ruffles no feathers. Questions US China, our system, heroes, Lies of equality in this land

See it if you're a fan of classic musicals and want to see the structure handled from another race and culture's point of view.

Don't see it if you aren't interested in seeing a musical where every aspect should be viewed beyond the surface level.

See it if this is a thrilling, new, political (meta-)musical with a lot to say about the state of the theatre and the world.

Don't see it if there's a lot going on, and for a while, it doesn't seem like it's going to be a musical. When it is, there's a sharp satirical edge.

Also I decided that trying to explain this show would turn people off, but here goes: it's a semi-satirical meta-musical rooted in reality, but framed by a production set in Shanghai many decades in future. Oh, and it's also a commentary on "The King and I".

It's great, go see it.... Read more Read less

See it if You want to see a very unique musical that works both as a relevant piece of theatre but also contains many wonderful homages.

Don't see it if You dislike musicals that are thematically spread a bit thin and have non-linear plots and meta moments.

Also “Musicals can be very tricky... when you deliver something and you put a beautiful string section underneath it... It sways you because of the physics of music, and the overtone series and the ways that music is embedded inside the science of being alive.” -Jeanine Tesori

Soft Power certainly has physics on its side. It is, in fact, akin to quantum physics. It is dazzling, but elusive. Complex and beautiful.

Soft Power is perhaps the most effective musical I've seen that resembles a sort of "stream of consciousness" format. It moves like a saccharine fever dream, never losing steam.

While it is, at time, slightly hard to follow in all of its dreamlike happenings, it is a unique musical that works both as a fully functional and effective piece on its own and as a dialogue with various other media, most notably, The King and I.

The performances are all stellar. Billy Bustamante was in for Xuē Xíng when I saw it and he was absolutely fantastic. Jon Hoche was a highlight as well.... Read more Read less

See it if You want a fresh take on race, identity, and the state of current musicals. It shoots for the moon, and occasionally gets there.

Don't see it if You’re looking for a fully finished, polished musical. I could see where this might end up, and enjoyed it, but it still needs work.

See it if You want to see a form breaking musical that blends satire with smart, sincere political commentary.

Don't see it if You cannot overlook some odd moments in Act 1.

See it if Funny satirical & earnest all at once exploration of cultural identity/confusion/appropriation filtered through 2016 election and musicals

Don't see it if It’s wild and divergent and tone shifts at all points but so bold and clever and big hearted it’s worth a try

See it if You appreciate clever musicals , Great staging, on current political themes w an irreverent spin

Don't see it if The second act is a bit tidy wanting to leave you with an upbeat hopeful air that’s a bit thin after the fabulous first act

See it if you have a true open mind -- to not only what makes interesting theater but also to geopolitical ideas you may find unappealing

Don't see it if stories about people outside America disinterest you or you are looking for a traditional musical