Soft Power

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 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 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

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're East Asian.

Don't see it if you're the worst.

Also I'm East Asian and I wish it were better.

There's a lot of potential here and quite a few individual moments that are brilliant, but as a whole, something about this doesn't quite connect. The majority of the satire worked for me, it was when Hwang's book became overtly heartfelt that I felt a disconnect.

Quibbles aside, seeing the all-Asian ensemble entire enter dancing, backed by a 21 piece orchestra brought me to tears. Seeing them perform in white-face (though they seemed to perform black-stereotypes at certain moments which is...whew) felt right. I'm so very happy this show exists and will likely see it again since Ricamora was out. Billy Bustamante was splendid though.... Read more Read less

See it if the world from China’s point of view. Our democracy is under siege! This is America! Good fortune will follow, if we somehow survive.

Don't see it if “play with a musical”, Chinese-American identity, stereotypes, hate crimes, voting system, guns, democracy, infidelity, cultural differences

Also If DHH can survive a knife attack, is it possible for our country to survive?

Strangely, I made a comparison between the framing devices used in Soft Power and The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy’s accident transports her from black and white Kansas farm life to the colorful and fantastical adventure in Oz. In Soft Power, DHH is hospitalized when he is stabbed in the neck, which transitions the show from play to musical.

I love The Public, but I sat near the back of the theater and think the acoustics may have impacted my experience. Go see it, there is so much to take away and enjoy.... Read more Read less

See it if You ever concerned about American’s future post-election; High-energy parody drives audience into constant laughter; discuss Sino-American

Don't see it if .. relationship in a witty way; could be offensive to some - Queen (Hilary) & I, Book of ‘Merica; 2 hrs with 1 intermission; Ends 11/10;

See it if Fun, pleasant musical that looks at America through a different lens, but the satire and humor often felt preachy. Some good music, worth it

Don't see it if Don't like stories that grow from a real-life event. Have had enough political theater involving current personalities.

See it if You like new musicals. You like politically relevant theater.

Don't see it if You only like traditional musicals by Rogers and Hammerstein, Sondheim, etc and don’t appreciate parodies.

Also I missed so many of the subtleties of this show that I want to see it again! Read the reviews before you go. I avoid doing this, but it would have been useful in this case.... Read more Read less

See it if you appreciate theater that’s pushes boundaries. It’s relevant and unpredictable but also very entertaining.

Don't see it if you want linear stories or hummable music. It’s unconventional and thought provoking, but also lots of fun.

See it if You want to see a show with all Asian cast about America and China, elections, gun violence, etc.. in a most ridiculously funny way.

Don't see it if You expect to see a serious political play; you are not interested in musicals; or you like simple storylines.

See it if you want to understand how foreigners see us and what it means to be American. It's satire but with a story and a message. I loved it!

Don't see it if you don't like thought-provoking and funny musicals

See it if See it if you like mediocre show tunes and a lot of mylar.

Don't see it if If you like a cohesive story and songs with interesting lyrics.

See it if You like edgy musicals.

Don't see it if If you don't like political theater.

See it if Entertaining and smart. Politically charged and simultaneously delightful. The kind of show that could be around for awhile.

Don't see it if You don’t want to think while you are watching a show.....you don’t have an appreciation for classic shows or contemporary politics.

See it if you're a fan of Hwang or Tesori & want to see anything they do; you want to see any art that deals with feeling foreign in the USA.

Don't see it if you want a fresh or coherent musical; flatfooted parody or satire is for you so much screeching chalk on the blackboard.

Also At several points in playwright David Hwang’s “Soft Power” the character David Hwang has to grapple with his hyphenated identity, Chinese-American, & how he persistently feels foreign in his own country. These moments provide sharp insight on both a political & a human level. But how few these moments are! Hwang brilliantly sets up his play so a realistic unsung prolog gives way to an over-the-top musical when a traumatic knife attack pushes the material into crazier territory. But that musical mostly forgoes the human in favor of numbers that parody conventional musicals &, more detrimental, satirize the current political scene without an ounce of humor or insight. Song-&-dance numbers with Hillary Clinton stripping in a McDonald’s, Chief Justice Roberts explaining the electoral system or a machine-gun toting chorus high-kicking in the VP’s office are shockingly bad. 3 personal numbers succeed both as songs & insightful drama, but weren’t enough to rescue this night for me.... Read more Read less

See it if you're a fan of Hwang or Tesori, like subversive, original musicals & references to classic show tunes, like shows inspired by real life

Don't see it if Don't like satire, not a fan of the classic show tune style, don't want to see HIllary C. depicted, not into topics like dominance of Chines

See it if brilliant riff on "The King and I" told from Chinese perspective; wild satire of US democracy & Trumpism; plus a piercing love story

Don't see it if confusing; lush score not work well w/ jagged satire; not for those who dislike uber-meta/self-aware vehicles

Also "Soft Power" will be hard for some people 2 get comfortable w because its structure makes it hard 2 comprehend. But if u go w the flow u may start 2 appreciate how daring it is. Spoiler: By the 2nd Act you find that China 50 yrs in the future is the dominant world power & we are seeing a musical that was written in our current time 2 promote China's view of the world/its projection of Soft Power. This musical reverses the colonialist premises of "The King and I" so that Hillary Clinton is the leader who needs to be saved by a civilizing Chinese adviser. Just as the King is enamored of Anna, Hillary falls for her adviser. The musical broadly satirizes America & its govt since the Chinese view a democracy that can select Trump over Clinton as crazy. Bracketing the musical is a play about how the musical came to be made featuring playwright DH Hwang. In the musical, a love story has a happy ending; in the play/real life it's more complicated. Confusing? Yes. But overflowing w ideas.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy good acting/singing, some hysterical musical parody, lots of energy, political satire, East meets West themes, wonderful orchestra

Don't see it if looking for something memorable & moving; score is inconsistent; needs tightening. The play is enjoyable enough but wanted something more .

See it if you are a fan of Tesori or Hwang, neither of whom is at their best here, or if you like satire, no matter how lame.

Don't see it if you are expecting a coherent book that says anything of substance about US-China relations, Hillary, "heart" vs. "face" or our current mess.

Also There is so much talent at work that it is a terrible disappointment to watch it sink under the weight of an incoherent book. It has severe second act problems! Conrad Ricamora and Alyse Alan Louis are excellent. The sets, costumes and wigs are wonderful.... Read more Read less

See it if you decode the agenda behind the art/content you consume and want to see that mental activity externalized in metamusical form.

Don't see it if you’d rather see an enveloping story than a knotty analogy (made possible via dream sequence); you’re for the GOP. Semi stilted but…

Also …worthwhile if you believe art takes on its own civic life—in which its popularity relies on its social usefulness & not necessarily its truth.

Despite billing as a fever dream, SP tends toward critical commentary. It rains frills & flair, but in a way that puts you at an almost forensic distance to judge the narrative. Excesses underline how art/pop culture push ideology, but I suspect the exaggerated pizzazz is also a bit of an apology for SP’s complexity.

SP has an illuminatingly improbable racial reversal of The King and I, an incisive comment on “saving face,” & Chinese vs Amer. ideas of love & of personal responsibility. And beyond the anticipated East-West contrasts, SP is explicitly framed by a specific (Asian-)American perspective—one that’s loyally assimilated yet not considered representative. The contradiction outs the tendency of soft power to grade citizenship in light of race. Against the odds SP remains patriotic, but at least notes concerted reflection in being so.... Read more Read less

See it if you enjoy creative, thought provoking theater. Show was an unexpected take on the American musical - a pleasant surprise.

Don't see it if you are tired of hearing about the last presidential election and don't want to see a tap dancing Hillary Clinton.

See it if You like Hwang. Clever interesting original. Lots of wigs, costumes, dance numbers; need to listen and pay attention.

Don't see it if You want a clear cut plot. This is confusing. Part dream, part zaney musical. Hard to follow. Very political.

See it if You like your theater to make you think and not spoon feed all the answers, just more questions .

Don't see it if You want traditional chronology.

Also Tesori writes beautifully for a large orchestra and the producers have provided one. Wish they had left the back wall open throughout the show so we could see them.... Read more Read less