What I liked
The play explored mixed-race identity with honesty and emotional depth.
What I didn't like
Overall, the transitions between scenes felt uneven. In particular, there were moments when dialogue was happening on one side of the stage while large set pieces were being moved on the other — and the resulting noise disrupted the audience’s focus. Additionally, some actors struggled with projection and diction, making certain lines difficult to catch, especially in emotionally significant moments. With improvements in these areas, the production has the potential to become even more polished and powerful.
My overall impression
My Tiger unfolds like an autobiographical theatre piece, tracing the life of Didi, a Chinese mixed-race man growing up in America. But this is no mere memoir — it’s a piercing exploration of identity, belonging, and the cultural fractures that lie beneath the surface of a multiethnic society.
In a country like the United States, where communities are diverse yet often deeply divided, the need for communal bonds becomes critical. And it is precisely within this space that mixed-race individuals like Didi wrestle with dual (or fractured) identities. My Tiger captures this tension with striking clarity.
The structure of the play is refreshingly inventive. Young Didi and grown-up Didi often share the stage, weaving together past and present with seamless fluidity. A family dinner alternates between childhood tensions and the tentative reconciliations of adulthood. This device creates a dialogue between Didi’s former and current selves — one that reveals the painful evolution of his internal landscape.
As a child, Didi rejects his Asian identity, trying to escape the sting of racism by aligning with whiteness. But as an adult, he chooses to embrace his Asian roots, challenging his own past and reclaiming his narrative. This arc culminates in the final, deeply moving moment: Didi introducing the very play we’re watching to his parents. It’s a quiet but powerful resolution, filled with warmth, reflection, and unspoken forgiveness.
One of the most striking metaphors in the play is Didi’s self-description as a “Tiger.” Didi’s aggression becomes courage — the bravery to expose himself. His sensitivity reflects the wounds of racialized childhood. And his candor defines the entire performance: raw, honest, and unflinching.
There were several moments when, as an Asian American myself, I found myself nodding instinctively in recognition. The script dares to voice the unspoken with humor, with irreverence, and with profound emotional honesty. It’s rare to laugh out loud while also feeling seen. My Tiger achieves both.
Despite its cinematic pacing and emotional depth, this is not a play carried by spectacle. With a 16-member cast and minimal set design, the production feels at once expansive and intimate. Its fluid transitions and rich emotional beats unfold like a film, but its impact is unmistakably theatrical.
To bare one’s story so completely (with both grace and grit) is no small feat. To do so with style, humor, and radical honesty? That deserves a standing ovation. Bravo, Didi.
