Writer and Director: Li Zhuolang
Who the hell is Robert Wayne? is Li Zhuolang’s debut play, exploring her trajectory from superhero-obsessed teen growing up in North-Western China, to student in Hong Kong, and actor in the US / UK.
It examines the loneliness and cultural disconnect she’s experienced living abroad, as well as the archetyping and tokenism that beset her attempts to carve out an identity beyond her origins, establish relationships and build an onstage career.
Set in Li’s disorderly flat – she has 24 hours to pack up her effects before the landlord turfs her out – the action revolves around a drawn-out audition for the role of Ratman, a feral superhero character (played in the first instance by ‘Robert Wayne’) that Li idolised from the moment she first saw him sock a villain in the jaw. She’s set her heart on the part.
In her attempts to pack, Li stops to reminisce about every bit of superhero merch about the place, cutting a likeable, relatable and amusing figure as she pads around in cosy pink slippers.
She deploys the collectables to illuminate stages in her life: growing up in the evidently westernised city of Chang’An (“We had two McDonald’s!”), her fixation with justice that led her to study law, and the genesis of her relationship with her English boyfriend. Li lovingly describes how he won her heart by replacing her signed Ratman grenade after she dropped it at a Comic Con event.
The Ratman casting agent calls; Li’s overjoyed that the character’s originator is happy to consider casting her in the role as an inclusive gesture. But having spoken with Li, he expresses doubts about her accent: she doesn’t confuse her L’s and R’s sufficiently.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a feature of Li’s Mandarin dialect (“It’s like assuming everyone in England has a Brummie accent!”), a fact she demonstrates by portraying numerous Chinese regional voices, followed by a spate of enjoyably voluble swearing, “I’m so glad you couldn’t understand that!”
Deeper, darker soul-searching ensues as Li calls her boyfriend and questions the motives behind asking her out and offering her a place in his flat. The remaining scenes, centred on Li’s family history and preparations for one last audition, are poignant and affecting.
There’s much exposition, yet the play passes quickly: Li is a clever and engaging raconteur. The only slight problem with the performance is her rapid-fire delivery, although this could be down to first-show nerves. Her richly drawn stories and entertaining quips need more time to land.
Conceived initially as a short monologue, then developed into a stand-up routine and now this 60-minute incarnation, Who the hell is Robert Wayne? is still being developed by Li: she’s devised a two-hour ensemble play. On the basis of this viewing, the longer format very much deserves airing.
Runs until 13 August 2025
Camden Fringe runs until 24 August 2025
