Bang On The Nerve: An Asian-Australian Adaptation - Show Review
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Originally written by Van Badham, Bang On The Nerve is pitched as a short-comedy take on the complexities of dating in a heterosexual context in the 21st century.
In this Asian-Australian adaptation of this theatre show, Dani Lim stars as Elle, a feisty and bold young woman, whilst Sam Lau stars as Louis, a stereotypical yet surprisingly sensitive young man. Elle and Louis begin as friends, but eventually evolve into something potentially more.
Both Elle and Louis seemingly mirror one another’s stories, with the pair working in mundane and inspiring day jobs which hinder their progress to succeed with a career in the creative arts field, as well as having complex and chaotic relationships with their past and current partners.
The stage is set in a stereotypical depiction of what you’d expect a modern teenage boy’s room to look like; clothes everywhere, a messy bed, and various posters stuck to the wall (not to mention, a groovy Nujabes poster).
It is drama-fuelled from the get-go, as Lim asserts herself as Elle through her bold physicality, exaggerated mannerisms, and loud speeches as we’re slowly introduced to her character.
Lau as Louis on the other hand, is somewhat seemingly mellow, and even perhaps cynical with his strumming guitar and witty comebacks. The humour and tension created by these segments work sweetly, creating both a funny yet fiery build up of his character.
Elle and Louis go back and forth with a myriad of dialogue which evidently makes it feel like a relatively short jam-packed hour of sexual tension and drama. It definitely suits the pace and tone of the performance, but could benefit from some more dramatic pauses or moments of silence to dissect what’s been said.
Continuing on from the topic of the dialogue, Lim and Lau have gone to great lengths and efforts to weave in some typical Cantonese quotes and sayings, themes of white privilege contrasted with Asian ideals, patriarchal norms, double standards, and feminist rhetoric. While fast paced, the dialogue is highly nuanced and a very strong component of their adaptation, which should indeed be applauded.
The emotional and physical elements of intimacy and sexual tension created through both Lim and Lau’s characters were simply flawless, mixing in the emotions of sadness, confusion, awkwardness, ambivalence, and ultimately, lust, to tie these scenes together. If you enjoy awkward and cheesy kissing moments, then this might be the one for you.
All of the chaos, fury, and drama come to a climactic end when suddenly, they find a slightly unexpected but cliche end to this witty and short romantic tale of modern heterosexual dating.
Although it felt like the performance could have gone for slightly longer to have more moments to digest the brilliant dialogue, Lim and Lau have absolutely nailed their Asian-Australian adaptation of Bang On The Nerve. The depiction of Asian-Australian culture woven with modern day dating standards is my kind of show which I’d recommend audiences of all cultures to experience.
Rating: ★★★★1/2
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