Producers of the comedy musical The Ghost of John McCainwhich premiered this week at New York’s SoHo Playhouse, respond to criticism from Meghan McCain.

In an open letter, producers Jason Rose, Max Fose and Lynn London addressed the former Display criticism from cohost about their play, which centers on her father, the late Senator John McCain. “Meghan, can we do it again?” the letter begins. “Your comments about our new musical make us wonder, how can you review a show without seeing it first?”

McCain criticized the off-Broadway play on social media in April, writing, “This is garbage — nothing more than a gross money-making scheme by mediocre, desperate people. I hope it flops.”

The open letter first clarifies who originally came up with the idea for the play, noting that the concept came from a close colleague of the late politician. “As you may not know, this show was co-created by the late Grant Woods, former Attorney General of Arizona and, most importantly, your father’s first Chief of Staff,” the producers write. “We all watched Grant, along with President Biden, deliver a beautiful eulogy to your father. Grant loved your father. He would never have done anything that he felt would tarnish your father’s legacy, and neither do we. The three producers admired your father as well and now wish to honor him.”

Representatives for McCain did not immediately respond to Entertainment weekly‘s request for comment.

The producers go on to suggest that John McCain would have appreciated their play for its comedic sensibilities. “No one knows better than you what a wonderfully wickedly salty sense of humor your father had,” they write. “The comedy in our show is meant to reflect his own love of satire. ‘Would Senator McCain find this funny?’ was a constant refrain during the writing and rehearsal process. I like to think he would have been as amused as anyone by what we created, even the most outrageous material. And it does get outrageous sometimes.”

The letter goes on to explain how the producers want their play to unite political opponents rather than create further division. “We believe that art in general and comedy in particular are essential tools for bridging ideological divides, building understanding, and even changing hearts and minds,” the producers write. “Even at its most absurd, our show makes a point about the meaning of leadership and the importance of democracy — two subjects your father was most passionate about. A hilarious exploration of power, rivalry, and the human condition, The Ghost of John McCain is the ticket we need during the election campaign from hell.”

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The letter ends with an invitation for Meghan McCain and her husband Ben to see the show at the SoHo Playhouse in Manhattan. “After seeing it, we would appreciate any feedback you may have,” the producers note. “But knowing the humor, integrity and reverence you have for your father, we suspect you will find this art form a wonderful way to celebrate a life well lived and capture a political system at an extraordinary tipping point.”

Following McCain’s criticism on social media in April, Ghost of John McCain Playwright Scott Elmegreen told EW that the play only seeks to smear Donald Trump, not John McCain. He described the play as “a psychological exploration of what that might be like for the senator, as he assembles a ‘Greek Chorus’ coalition of Hillary Clinton, Eva Perón, Teddy Roosevelt, Taylor Swift and everyone else who squats there rent-free to rebel against the former president’s relentless demands for confirmation. We hope their journey can continue the senator’s legacy of inspiring us all to do what we can for the cause of justice and freedom.”

The Ghost of John McCain can be seen at SoHo Playhouse in New York until November 10.