Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play
by Keiko Green

Highlights

Female

Male

105 mins Present Day Role(s) for Asian Actor(s) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes Comedy

Synopsis

It’s 1999, and Ami is an awkward, Japanese American high school girl just trying to stay as invisible as possible.

Her world comes crashing down with a terrible discovery: Her family is responsible for manufacturing MSG, the poison spice getting all the kids hooked.

Meanwhile, a mysterious new girl arrives from Japan.

Her name?

Exotic Deadly.

She’s loud, she smokes and she’s not playing by the rules.

Who… or what is she?

In this time-traveling adventure, Ami vows to save the world from MSG and through her quest, realizes what she’s capable of, if she would just stop being invisible.

Press Reviews

"Fast-paced, surreal, and thought-provoking."
— Front Row Review

"Exotic Deadly delivers its message in a hysterical, mind-blowing, insightful package."
— Talkin’ Broadway

"When Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play is funny, it’s ‘inject this into my veins’ funny. [The show] seems to have a map of your brain’s secret cravings, including which flavors to sprinkle to satisfy them."
— San Francisco Chronicle

"Smart and hilarious! This wildly funny, time-hopping play is a universal story about teen angst and the healing power of family, love and acceptance."
— San Diego Union-Tribune

"To see Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play as an AAPI person is to take ownership of the seasoning, the food, the culture and the ancestors that came before us. To see it as a supporter of the arts is an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of another community and pause to ask, ‘What are the ways our country has othered people? What are the ways we can stop that narrative?"
— Elaine Alfaro, The Point

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
AMI (ACTOR 1) Female. 20s. An awkward, 14-year-old over-sharer with ADHD who just wants to stay invisible. Lots of energy. This is her story until the story takes over. Until then, she’s a manic Zach Morris on the brink of a dark identity crisis. She doesn’t really identify with the Asian culture that is literally pumping through her veins. Loves her family, hates her family.	female	20s	Female. 20s. An awkward, 14-year-old over-sharer with ADHD who just wants to stay invisible. Lots of energy. This is her story until the story takes over. Until then, she’s a manic Zach Morris on the brink of a dark identity crisis. She doesn’t really identify with the Asian culture that is literally pumping through her veins. Loves her family, hates her family.
EXOTIC DEADLY (ACTOR 2) Female. 20s to 30s. A timeless (yet youthful) rebel. Unpredictable. The embodiment of MSG. Like a chestnut, she’s prickly yet surprisingly sweet. But years of being misunderstood takes its toll. She used to be something else. Then something else and something else. What does authenticity even look like anymore?	female	20s	Female. 20s to 30s. A timeless (yet youthful) rebel. Unpredictable. The embodiment of MSG. Like a chestnut, she’s prickly yet surprisingly sweet. But years of being misunderstood takes its toll. She used to be something else. Then something else and something else. What does authenticity even look like anymore?
ACTOR 3 Male. 20s to 30s. He represents family: our ancestors, our brothers. The flawed, surprisingly sensitive sweetheart. His eyes are warm, even as he teases you. The first to laugh at the joke at his own expense, even when the other guy goes too far. He’ll be a great Dad one day. Specifically plays	male	20s	Male. 20s to 30s. He represents family: our ancestors, our brothers. The flawed, surprisingly sensitive sweetheart. His eyes are warm, even as he teases you. The first to laugh at the joke at his own expense, even when the other guy goes too far. He’ll be a great Dad one day. Specifically plays
OJICHAN/JAPANESE SCIENTIST ,	—	—	,
KENJI ,	—	—	,
SEXY DOCTOR ,	—	—	,
BILL THE NEUROLOGIST and	—	—	and
HUSBAND OF LADY WHO READ AN ARTICLE .	female	—	.
ACTOR 4 Female. 30s to 40s. A bit of a chameleon with comedy chops, who plays a lot of maternal figures: The Mom who shows her love through her actions, not her words. The annoyed Aunties who work on their feet day in and day out for a brighter future (for someone else). The Midwestern teacher who really just wants you to do your golly-darned best! Specifically plays	female	30s	Female. 30s to 40s. A bit of a chameleon with comedy chops, who plays a lot of maternal figures: The Mom who shows her love through her actions, not her words. The annoyed Aunties who work on their feet day in and day out for a brighter future (for someone else). The Midwestern teacher who really just wants you to do your golly-darned best! Specifically plays
MOM ,	—	—	,
CHINESE RESTAURANT LADY ,	—	—	,
JAMHOLDER ,	—	—	,
VOICE 3 ,	—	—	,
ASIAN WOMAN ,	—	—	,
KAZUKO and	—	—	and
LADY WHO READ AN ARTICLE .	female	—	.
ACTOR 5 Male or non-binary with comedy chops. 20s. The lovable, hunky buffoon. The well-intentioned, popular kid at school, who accidentally did a number on your self-esteem. We’re meeting him at his peak, and his peak looks great, especially in slo-mo. Keanu from Bill & Ted. Specifically plays	male	20s	Male or non-binary with comedy chops. 20s. The lovable, hunky buffoon. The well-intentioned, popular kid at school, who accidentally did a number on your self-esteem. We’re meeting him at his peak, and his peak looks great, especially in slo-mo. Keanu from Bill & Ted. Specifically plays
VIDEO GAME VOICE ,	—	—	,
DR. LYLE ,	male	—	,
BEN ,	—	—	,
SCHOOL NURSE ,	—	—	,
VOICE 2 ,	—	—	,
ASIAN MAN ,	—	—	,
BENKEI and	—	—	and
7-11 CLERK .	—	—	.