Writer: Chenxing Liu
Director: Ya Lucia Kang
In a world of uncertainty and strife, it is of the essence to be formidably uninhibited by the plights and doubts of life– to be the formless “water” that allows you to adapt to what might seek to test you.
Drawing its inspiration from Bruce Lee’s famous quote, “Be water, my friend,” Chenxing Liu’s powerful one-woman performance maps out the tumultuous voyage of a Chinese international student’s experience with navigating the world of acting in the United Kingdom. Explored through humour and raw emotion, Liu’s show is a resonant display of one’s indomitable outlook in the face of adversity.
From the outbound calls home to the seemingly endless cycle of auditions, Liu’s Be Water, My Friend, playing in the Pinch of Vault Festival, perfectly encapsulates the international study abroad experience and the oftentimes exhausting reality of being an acting student. Whether it is of potential rejection or the normalised commonality of mispronouncing names, Liu not only illuminates the reality of an acting student but of a Chinese acting student. It is an effortlessly immersive and insightful performance and one that effectively reverberates because of its true authenticity.
Her stage presence is similarly captivating in its execution, utilising set props and the audience alike to progress her narrative and to create an interactive experience. As such, it is easy to feel as if a part of the story and to simultaneously understand the gravity of the circumstances that have shaped Liu to be the admirable person that she is now.
The notion that Liu’s show embodies the significance of Bruce Lee’s quote incorporates a certain inspirational tone to the performance. Despite the multitude of challenges encountered as a Chinese acting student, Liu remains steadfast in the face of strife. It is deeply impactful and stands as a testament to one’s resilience and to the passion for creative pursuits like acting.
Be Water, My Friend is an incredibly moving story and one that will surely continue to captivate its audience through its affecting sentiments and genuineness.
Reviewed on 14 February 2024
The Reviews Hub Score
Inspirational
