Theatrical Umami Bomb
Folks, if you’ve ever worried that your Chinese takeout is secretly brainwashing you, Exotic Deadly: Or The MSG Play might just blow your mind—or at least your taste buds. Keiko Green’s raucous, time-hopping, anime-fueled comedy, now at San Francisco Playhouse through March 8, takes a deep dive into one of America’s strangest food myths. And let me tell you, this show is as wild as a 3 a.m. ramen binge.
It’s 1999. Ami, a Japanese American high schooler with a knack for awkwardness (played with hilarious sincerity by Ana Ming Bostwick-Singer), finds out that her family played a role in creating MSG—the much-maligned seasoning that has fueled urban legends. Her quest to clear her family’s name takes a surreal turn when a mysterious and effortlessly cool new girl from Japan arrives. What unfolds is a hilariously chaotic and deeply resonant journey through teenage anxieties, family legacies, and, yes, the unexpected magic of instant ramen.
This cast? They’ve got chops (and not just the kind you eat). James Aaron Oh, Nicole Tung, Phil Wong, and Edric Young flip between characters faster than a late-night channel surfer, bringing the play’s rollercoaster of chaos to life. Director Jesca Prudencio keeps the energy high, the comedy sharp, and the sentiment sneaky—just when you think you’re watching a goofy teen adventure, bam, you’re contemplating identity, history, and why people think MSG is some kind of chemical boogeyman.
Visually, this thing is a feast. Heather Kenyon’s set design spins between school hallways and anime dreamscapes, Michael Oesch’s lighting zips from fluorescent to fantastical, and Kathleen Qiu’s costumes serve up vintage 90s nostalgia with a side of comic-book flair. It’s like someone took a Saturday morning cartoon, a sci-fi flick, and a coming-of-age drama, tossed them in a wok, and cranked the heat to high.
But here’s the real kicker: this play has bite. Green’s script is whip-smart, poking at cultural anxieties, generational misunderstandings, and the weird stuff we believe just because someone once told us to. (MSG bad? Says who? Probably the same guy who thinks gum stays in your stomach for seven years.)
Playing through March 8, 2025
San Francisco Playhouse, 450 Post Street, San Francisco
️ Tickets: $35-$135 | Get Tickets | Call 415-677-9596 to purchase by phone.
New! Audio Described Performance
For blind and visually impaired audience members, San Francisco Playhouse is offering live audio description and a haptic access tour on Sunday, March 2nd at 2 P.M.
So, should you see Exotic Deadly? Let’s put it this way: If you like your theater fast, funny, and just a little off-kilter (in the best way possible), grab your ticket before they vanish like a bowl of late-night ramen.
