Stage Review - Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play (Pork Filled Productions / SIS Productions)

Stage Review - Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play
Presented By: Pork Filled Productions / SIS Productions @ The Theatre Off Jackson - Seattle, WA
Show Run: September 06 - September 20, 2025
Date Reviewed: Saturday, September 6, 2025 (Opening Night)
Run Time: 1 Hour, 40 minutes (no intermission)
Reviewed By: Greg Heilman

Monosodium glutamate—MSG—it’s that thing we’ve been told comes from the devil’s workshop, the chemical behind headaches, nausea, and racing heartbeats, right? We’ve heard it’s evil, that it should be avoided at all costs. After all, many people have said so, many smart people, contrary to what “big spice” tells us. But is that true? Is MSG really that bad for us? Does it cause all of those side effects, or is there another explanation? The FDA calls it generally safe, but then again, can we trust the FDA these days? We’re constantly told that government agencies are corrupt and incompetent. You see where I’m going. It’s also where the immensely talented playwright Keiko Green goes in her play Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play.

Now running at Theatre Off Jackson in Seattle through September 20, directed by Mimi Katano and co-produced by Pork Filled Productions and SIS Productions, Exotic Deadly presents a sharp thesis on the illusory effect—the psychological phenomenon where a mass of people believe something over time with little to no evidence. Keiko skewers our cultural gullibility while also poking fun at the other side’s passionate defense of their favorite flavor enhancer. It’s both allegory and metaphor for today’s political and social dynamic, and it’s written so smartly that the playwright gets her point across while surrounding the narrative with teenage angst, family strife, and time travel. It’s fast-paced, funny, and the perfect balance of message and mayhem.

The story is told from the perspective of Ami, a Japanese American high schooler juggling her family’s expectations and the weight of her ancestors while navigating social minefields. Her family, she learns, descends from the scientist who invented MSG, and while the flavor enhancer was thoroughly tested and deemed safe, a single article linking it to “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” turned the American public against it. Ami discovers the article, turns against the spice herself, and in doing so sets off ripple effects that impact her family, her friends, and her connection to her own heritage. Just then, a new transfer student from Japan arrives: Exotic Deadly, or Betsy at school. But Exotic Deadly is more than just a rebellious teen—she’s exactly what Ami needs to survive her doubts. Through despair, time travel, and a reckoning with the past, Ami ultimately finds her own answer instead of blindly accepting what she’s told.

The play is uproarious from start to finish, though Keiko sprinkles in moments of clarity that land harder precisely because of the comedy around them. Karis Ho, as Ami, radiates angst and doubt not just in her interactions with others but in her narration. She presents the show as though she’s telling the story directly to the audience—a device that feels unusual at first but makes perfect sense by the end of the play. Karis is utterly believable as the socially awkward teenager, whether at school, at home, or in fiery clashes with her mother.

Meanwhile, Pearl Mei Lam’s Exotic Deadly arrives with Sandy Dumbrowski-in-Act-3 Grease energy: tough, no-nonsense, everything Ami is not. Pearl makes the character funny and formidable in equal measure, and when she shifts to playing an earlier, less-hardened version of the same figure, she handles it with just as much ease and versatility.

The ensemble as a whole is sharp, energetic, and clearly enjoying themselves and the characters they portray. James Lee embodies Ami’s brother Kenji, a character who personifies the 1990s as though the decade itself is stitched into his wardrobe. Monty Rozema’s costume design helps, outfitting James in an unmistakably ’90s palette while also smartly dressing him as Ami’s scientist grandfather. Monty’s work also shines in Pearl’s dual looks—modern leather for Exotic Deadly, soft innocence for her younger self—and in Kathy Hsieh’s quick-change versatility. Kathy moves between Ami’s mother, a Bamboo Panda waitress, and a schoolteacher, each with distinct accents and personalities. She handles the shifts with ease and delivers standout turns in every role.

Josh Kenji and Van Lang Pham are Ben and Matt—definitely not Affleck and Damon, just two teens obsessed with the lives and careers of those namesakes. They’re hysterical, their dynamic more Bill and Ted than the famous Hollywood friends and collaborators, or for a fresher reference, straight out of The Californians on SNL. They pop up in other roles too, but as Ben and Matt they steal the show comedically.

The staging itself is a treat. Early on, Ami’s mother appears in the kitchen, diligently preparing bento box lunches for Ami and Kenji. Soon, these meals become central to the storytelling, and Parmida Ziaei’s set design takes that theme and adds another dimension to it, resembling a larger-than-life bento box, complete with functional compartments, Robin Macartney’s props pulled out as the story demands. At the back, projections by Shadow Girls Cult recall old-school classroom transparencies and act almost like characters themselves. Mimi Katano’s creative team also includes Trina Wright (lighting), Josh Valdez (sound), and Jasmine Lomax (fight/intimacy direction). Behind the scenes, P. Alyda Sorm keeps the production running smoothly as stage manager, assisted by Toki Bahn, with Grecia Leal Pardo and Madelyn Salvucci as production managers.

Exotic Deadly is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud satire about MSG and our fraught relationship with it. But it’s more than that. Keiko Green’s writing is so deft that the humor sweeps you away, only for you to realize later she’s offering a warning: abandon critical thinking, and we’ll believe anything we’re told—like a blind man in the market buying whatever he’s sold. In this production, playwright, director, and cast unite to create an important allegory delivered with joy and energy. Keiko continues to craft witty, incisive theatre, and the group in this co-production doesn’t just perform her work—they embody it. It’s a busy time in theatre, with so many shows opening this month, but this is one you won’t want to miss.

Keiko Green’s Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play, a co-production from Pork Filled Productions and SIS Productions, runs on stage at the Theatre Off Jackson in Seattle through September 20. For more information on the show, visit https://porkfilled.com/wp/ or https://www.facebook.com/sisproductions/.

Photo credit: Giao Nuyen