When you go and see a play, a ballet/dance piece, something ‘arts’ related, there is an effect; such effect resonates in different ways, depending on the person. I consider that is the beauty of the performing arts. It is not all (or only) entertainment.
Tiger style has been indeed resonating in different ways across the San Diego community for what I have been reading (smile). The plot: a brother and sister team of Asian descent, Chinese to be exact.
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| Raymond J. Lee and Jackie Chung in La Jolla Playhouse’s production of TIGER STYLE!, by Mike Lew, directed by Jaime Castañeda; running Sept 6 – Oct 2 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre; photo by Jim Carmody. |
Jennifer (Jackie Chung) is a successful oncologist and brother Albert (Raymond J. Lee) is a computer engineer that is resenting the ‘cultural differences’ people refer to, or so he feels people refer to. His co-worker ‘Russ the Bus’ (Nate Miller) -who is white-, does not put in all the work required for the office duo, yet gets all the credit AND the promotion. This drives Albert over the edge and quits after Russ becomes his boss, pointing out the ‘white privilege’ at the workplace and leaving a farewell gift: the main hard drives ruined by a soda shower.
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| Nate Miller (left) and Raymond J. Lee |
Albert and Jennifer own a house which they share with Jen’s boyfriend Reggie (also played by Miller) who basically treats the girl like trash and has been doing so for three years. Jennifer ‘does not mind’ as long as they have kids soon because her ovaries are ‘drying up’; when Reggie decides to leave, stating that he thought it would be different to live with an ‘Asian’ woman expecting for the situation to be more ‘exotic’, Jennifer goes over the edge.
When both siblings rant about their problems in the living room, they discover who is responsible for all their misfortune: Their parents. With that, they decide to go over to their parents house (both successful doctors) and yell at them like ‘a white girl’. When mom (Maryann Hu) and dad (David Shih) hear the charged speeches in regards to their Tiger Style parenting, they are neither bothered or amused. Jen and Albert feel out of place. They were raised in The States and really are American as apple pie but again, between the cultural differences they feel and the upbringing they had, it comes to a point where nothing makes sense.So they decide to go to the ‘homeland’ China in a really bizarre and kind of surrealist adventure…That unfolds in act 2.
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| (L-R) David Shih, Raymond J. Lee, Jackie Chung and MaryAnn Hu |
Obviously I have been living in my own world because I did not know what ‘Tiger Style’ parenting meant until this play (laughs). Being an immigrant myself I get it, I get it! You do not have to be Asian to have this piece resonate. We all feel it. The privilege, the differences, the not belonging, and last but not least the –exotic– part. Playwright Mike Lew did a pretty good job, YET the first act is definitely way more landed than the second one, which feels choppy and in the air.
You want to know what happens in the second act? well go see the play 😉
I also consider Jaime Castañeda did a splendid job directing the piece. The U.S customs scene at the airport, definitely my favorite.
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| (L-R) Raymond J. Lee, Jackie Chung and Nate Miller in La Jolla Playhouse’s production of TIGER STYLE!, by Mike Lew, directed by Jaime Castañeda; Sept 6 – Oct 2 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre; photo by Jim Carmody. |
Lauren Helpern’s loft style scenic design is very creative and totally contributes to the flow of the play along with Anthony Jannuzzi’s lighting design. Speaking of flow, the playlist for ‘Tiger is GOLD. props to Shammy Dee and sound designer Mikhail Fiksel.
In conclusion, what I took from Tiger Style is that, we take this immigrant thing too personal and with that, continuously make it about us-us-us. We are in this country for a reason. Let us continue to make the best of it and rock out those ‘cultural differences‘.
Playing at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre until Sunday October 2nd. Tickets start at $20 dollars.Wanna buy tickets? click HERE
Wanna see the program? click HERE
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