 |
| DHH (Francis Jue, center) talks to his friend Xue Xing (Conrad Ricamora, left) at an elegant 22nd century McDonald's. |
Those roars rising from the Curran are reactions to
“Soft Power,” the David Henry Hwang play with music and some lyrics (in
addition to Hwang’s) by Jeanine Tesori.
Set in Hollywood in this century before advancing to
Shanghai about 100 years from now, it’s full of issues that have evoked
enormous concern in this country, especially in liberal areas like San
Francisco.
It all starts with a writer called DHH (Francis Jue
plays this stand-in for Hwang) working with a Chinese studio head, Xue Xing
(Conrad Ricamora), on a TV show to be set in China.
Since it’s shortly before the 2016 election, they go
to a Hillary Clinton (Alyse Alan Louis) fundraiser at a theater where “The King
and I” is playing. Xue meets her on his own, and the two click.
After the election, Xue has a hard time
understanding democracy, saying the Chinese system is more efficient.
Then DHH is stabbed near his home in Brooklyn (such
an attack actually happened to Hwang), probably by a racist. He goes to the
hospital and has a dream about a Chinese musical, “Soft Power,” based on his
experiences. Soft power refers to a country’s culture, art and ideas as opposed
to the hard power of its military might and economic strength.
This musical is shown in Act 2, which takes place in
the 21st century, when it has become a Chinese classic and China has
superseded the United States in soft power after being mostly its equal in hard
power.
This is where it resonates so strongly with songs
like “Good Guy With a Gun,” taking place in the White House and satirizing
America’s permissiveness about guns.
It also imagines a relationship between Xue and
Hillary and includes a short dance just like the one for Anna and the King of
Siam (“Shall We Dance?”) in “The King and I.”
As directed by Leigh Silverman, the show fields a
triple-threat cast of mostly Asian Americans who act, sing and dance well
(choreography by Sam Pinkleton).
 |
| Alyse Alan Louis reappears as Hillary Clinton in a 22nd century musical. |
The songs are terrific, too, such as Hillary’s “Song
of the Campaign Trail,” which brought the opening night audience to its feet at
the end of Act 1.
Music director David O conducts the large orchestra.
Chris Fenwick is music supervisor.
The show is full of laughs, many of them emanating
from the current political climate.
David Zinn’s set facilitates easy scene changes. One
of his more impressive coups is the elaborate McDonald’s, which has become the
best restaurant in Los Angeles in the 22nd century.
Costumes by Anita Yavich, lighting by Mark Barton
and sound by Kai Harada add to the enjoyment.
This world premiere is co-presented by the Curran
and Center Theatre Group, which staged it in Los Angeles in May.
Assuming it goes on to Broadway, it’s sure to be a
strong contender for Tony Awards.
Running about two and a half hours with one
intermission, “Soft Power” will continue through July 8 at the Curran, 445
Geary St., San Francisco.
For tickets and information, call (415) 358-1220 or visit www.sfcurran.com.
(Photos by Craig Schwartz Photography)
For tickets and information, call (415) 358-1220 or visit www.sfcurran.com.
(Photos by Craig Schwartz Photography)
