Chef's secret ingredient MSG is returning to popularity in kitchens, with a new stage play, 'Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play,' exploring its cultural connotations. The story follows a Japanese-American girl who sets out to save the world from MSG—a substance her parents helped create—by time-traveling through the 1990s. The play incorporates elements of pop culture, anime, and nostalgic themes, while highlighting how MSG has been unfairly demonized despite its natural occurrence in foods like Parmesan. It runs at the San Francisco Playhouse until March 8.
Many chefs at top restaurants now openly embrace MSG, once shunned for its supposed harmful effects, recognizing its flavor-enhancing properties.
Through her time-traveling journey in the play, the protagonist explores the cultural stigmas and misconceptions surrounding MSG, particularly within the context of Asian cuisine.
Presented as a frenetic and fantastical experience, 'Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play' challenges the mainstream narrative about MSG while weaving in nostalgic elements of the 90s.
Critics have praised the show for its vibrant storytelling and deep exploration of identity, culture, and the often misunderstood ingredient in gourmet cooking.
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