Tonight is the last chance to see Chick Habits. 🎭🪭 Do yourself a favour and enjoy the experience of queer asian angst in the form of a teenage punk band. 🎸💅
Two nights ago, I had the pleasure of seeing this iconic new production by Nuanzhi Zheng. At the very unique in-house zine stand, I learnt that the story stemmed from Zheng’s comic book from her time at Elam School of arts. 🖼️ I was lucky enough to buy the last copy of her zine.
This show was about 23 year-old Olivia (Louise Jiang), who remembers her time as a teenager with her two best friends (Nomuna Amarbat, Shervonne Grierson) and their epic punk band. Now, her ex-besties stole her original songs and became a pop sensation duo. Olivia is gonna get her revenge, but not without the help of her condescending dead mothers ghost (Jo Lo). 🧑🎤 👻 This production was developed at the Proudly Asian Theatre’s Fresh Off the Page initiative.
When I walked into the Basement Theatre,
I was entranced by a tangle of pink cords, a pair of cat girl headphones, and pretty pastel brick walls 🧱🩷 It felt like my 12 year-old dreams of pink had been realised. I wasn’t expecting punk to be bubble pink.
The show opens with a familiar of terrible learners driving and a very confronting debate – is taylor swift a good musician or is she just a bit cringe?
The very real need to be quirky, original and not a basic bitch is a repressed memory I didn’t expect to return to soon in my 20s. Yet, it was a welcome surprise. This production gives a nostalgic comfort that comes from watching a teen chick flick with the subtle sophistication of being in your 20s and self-aware.
Thank you Nuanzhi Zheng for bringing a lively yet emotional story to theatre that brought many laughs, tears and rock-on cheering. 🤘
Show: Chick Habits, playing at The Basement Theatre. Written by Nuanzhi Zheng. Directed by Nahyeon Lee. Produced by Pennie Chang. Starring Louise Jiang, Nomuna Amarbat, Shervonne Grierson and Jo Lo. Dramaturg by Nathan Joe.
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