Soft Power is a very timely musical about the uses and misuses of power, a profoundly ambitious satire in which noted playwright David Henry Hwang tries to explain the dismal results of the 2016 elections. Hwang is no shrinking violet when it comes to tough subjects—as witness his landmark play about race, racism and self-delusion, M. Butterfly—and this one is no exception.

L-R: Maria-Christina Oliveras (obscured), Geena Quintos, Billy Bustamante, Conrad Ricamora, Jaygee Macapugay, Jon Hoche and Daniel May

In this new play, directed by Leigh Silverman and with music by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), the action begins on the eve of those elections, when Chinese movie exec Xue Xing (Conrad Ricamora) sets up shop Stateside to make international hits. He engages a Chinese American playwright (Francis Jue) to pen a script for him. That writer happens to be called David Henry Hwang, who anguishes between being true to his art and holding onto a good paying gig. DHH invites Xue to a political rally, a rally featuring candidate Hillary Clinton (Alyse Alan Louis). Xue ends up meeting her and is smitten.

One evening while walking home from the grocery in Brooklyn, DHH is attacked by an unknown assailant—stabbed in the neck. Bleeding copiously, he manages to stumble to the nearest emergency room, then goes into a coma. (Two years ago this actually happened to the real Hwang, and that he managed to survive is a miracle.) DHH then has a fever dream about what happens during and after the 2016 elections. In that dream Xue continues his courtship of Clinton, although they argue about whether democracy works. Hwang works hard to tie together various threads—delusions of white male supremacy grandeur, gun violence, anti-Chinese sentiments, and whether the twain of East and West shall meet. One number lampoons the Electoral College, another the pro-gun lobby—no shrinking violet, he.

L-R: Conrad Ricamora and Francis Jue

As the lead, Ricamora stands out for his heartfelt, expressive singing, his charmingly sincere demeanor. However, he needs to work at getting those Chinese intonations right (a small amount of dialogue is in Mandarin Chinese). Another great voice belongs to Kendyl Ito who plays his daughter, plus several other roles. The play itself is uneven, alas, with some scenes the perfect blend of dialogue, theme, and staging, and others where it seems nervously overstuffed with action. Still, this is truly a must-see work, because of the urgency of its themes, and how cleverly Hwang helps us see the connections of what’s ailing this nation.

Photos by Craig Schwartz, © 2018 Craig Schwartz Photography

Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Directed by Leigh Silverman and choreographed by Sam Pinkleton; Soft Power; runs through June 10, 2018.