REVIEW: Taste Like Egg Fried Rice- A Cross-Cultural Table: A Theatrical Exploration of Identity

Currently showing at Bridewell Centre Theatre as part of Camden Fringe, Taste Like Egg Fried Rice is a contemporary play examining the lives of international students, queer relationships, family dynamics across cultures, and the question: “Who am I, and what do I really want?” The story follows Annie (Mary Emma He), a Chinese student in London, and her girlfriend Clara (Lalia Bron). A dinner argument over pasta versus egg fried rice spirals into a clash of personalities and cultural values, further complicated by visits from their humorous landlord (Joshua Kwan) and Annie’s pressures from home.

On stage, the production offers some compelling moments. Live camera director He Zhang uses real-time projections on a semi-transparent curtain, creating layered interactions between characters and the audience. This is especially effective in the landlord’s phone call scene, which takes on a voyeuristic quality.

One of the most striking directorial choices is in the Italian restaurant scene. Director Keyuan Zhang and visual designer Xuebiao Liu create a moment of operatic spectacle: while Annie’s job interview is the central plot point, the visual focus is on Giovanni, the chef. Standing on a chair, waving a long-handled ladle like a conductor, he commands the kitchen in a rhythmically lit sequence clearly inspired by Gordon Ramsay’s personality in Hell's Kitchen. A spotlight falls on him, and the lighting pulses rhythmically in sync with his voice - flickering in and out with a sense of tempo. As the symphonic music swells, a row of chefs stands behind transparent chairs. Head chef Giovanni stands atop a side chair, conducting Annie like a maestro. The warm-toned lighting casts layered shadows across the performers, creating a visual texture reminiscent of modern opera.

It is clear that director Keyuan Zhang’s use of horizontally aligned transparent chairs, with other performers seated facing away, except for Annie, who faces forward, mirrors the stylistic choices of Jamie Lloyd. However, this approach feels less appropriate here—especially when the scene’s dialogue and narrative are not strong enough to justify such a stylised, expressionistic staging.

Although the play, written by YK, touches on important themes, but struggles with cohesion. Scenes often feel like loosely linked vignettes rather than a unified narrative; key moments feel abrupt and disconnected: the TikTok shoot into the central argument about fried rice is awkwardly forced, and arguments with Annie’s mother or Clara’s reflective livestreams seem included solely to convey thematic points. As a result, the play feels more like a series of vignettes than a unified dramatic story, lacking the structure needed to build stakes and tension.

Crucially, the characters lack clearly defined stakes. Annie’s pressure to find a job feels like an external obligation rather than a deep internal drive, while her conflict with her mother is limited to two brief video calls without genuine urgency or consequence. Clara and Lin (Wenqi Yu) mainly serve as support to Annie’s arc, with their own desires remaining unclear. Lin’s sudden outburst about intimacy appears without buildup, making it unconvincing. Too often, the dialogue serves to deliver messages rather than reveal character, weakening both development and rhythm.

The decision to let Annie and Clara argue in their respective mother tongues, and to present Annie’s calls with her mother entirely in Chinese, adds authenticity but creates accessibility concerns for a mixed-language audience. Subtitles or visual text would have improved comprehension. Some sound design choices, such as canned laughter and exaggerated chewing noises, lean towards cliché, although the wider use of music and lighting is integrated with skill.

Taste Like Egg Fried Rice shows a genuine interest in cross-cultural identity, self-discovery, and generational pressure, experimenting with form and staging in commendable ways. As a new piece within the Camden Fringe focused on the international student experience, it offers a fresh perspective and heartfelt intent. Yet in narrative cohesion and dramaturgical craft, it remains unpolished- its ideas clear but its execution not yet mature. With deeper refinement, the play has the potential to resonate far more strongly.

★★★

For more information, please visit: https://camdenfringe.com/events/taste-like-egg-fried-rice/

Credits

Producer: Sijia Li, Mary Emma He
Producer Assistant: Zhuoyue Chen
Director: Keyuan Zhang
Playwright: YK
Music Composer: Katia Qi Shi
Set Designer: Mingyue Hu
Visual Designer: Xuebiao Liu
Costume Designer: Leah Nimitmongkol
Lighting Designer: Zhiyun Ren
Stage Manager: Wenting Hu
Live Camera Director: He Zhang
Cast: Mary Emma He, Lalia Bron, Wenqi Yu, Joshua Kwan, Zak Rosen

©️Photo by Echo