What I liked
Given the transitions, my favorite “act” of the piece was the third one, when Ashley found herself as a patient. For me, that act carried a good mixture of disturbing, yet thought-provoking revelations.
On the performance front, I must praise the layered performance of Jingyao Zhao (Ashley) who carries the bulk of the show on her shoulders. Special shout-out to Shuwen Pan (Dylan) for her take of an AI operated commode.
The Liftist features an all-Chinese creative team. On the design front, I want to recognize the creativity of Tilda Seo (lighting design) and Silvan Tang (sound/music design).
What I didn't like
To be honest, I left the show feeling confused. And the main reason I felt this way is because I don’t know if the writers know what they want this play to be.
Dramaturgically, the play could be tighter. Sections become overly repetitive without introducing new information.
And while it pains me to say this, given it’s comical factor, the toilet, after a while, felt like a gimmick and lost its efficacy.
My overall impression
In Amy Dong’s and Mason Ma’s play, The Liftist, it is best to expect the unexpected. Within the confines of the typical fringe categories, this play does not really fit within those boundaries. Specifically, the play jumbles worlds of comedy, absurdism, fantasy, realism, and AI drama into a melting pot.
At 75-minutes long, the play is unique unto itself. Relationships are tested, contracts are made and a prop toilet is used (frequently). Insert potty humor here.
No worries… the audience will not witness anything inappropriate.
