Letters Home

Joe Lui is a ubiquitous name in Perth independent theatre, providing talented contributions to shows across all genres for years, working as composer, director, lighting designer, musician, set designer, sound designer, stage hand, writer and, of course, founding member of Renegade Productions.  Working with many different companies, he is a familiar sight at shows, his big friendly smile framed by long hair and often wearing a strangely cheesy garment featuring animal print design, from leggings to cowboy hats.  Never before, though, has he actually taken to the stage to act.

Lui came from Singapore to Perth to study, and when it was time for him to serve his National Service in the army, he preferred to stay true to himself, despite creating a schism between himself, his homeland… and his parents. Letters Home is a series of hypothetical letters to his estranged, conservative parents, interwoven with ruminations on Chinese culture, the nature of free will, Lui’s childhood memories, decisions taken, career progression and personal cultural heroes.

With Lui’s theatre experiences behind the scenes, it is no surprise that the set, lighting and sound is spot on throughout. Using the talents of Chris Donnelly for lighting design, Mia Holton for video design and Cherish Marrington for the set and costume design, the results are worthy of the expectations of Lui’s own work that has featured so much, elsewhere. Evoking a studio space filled with his tools and inspirations, a blank board propped against a shelf features various projections, playing roles as a landscape painting, a photo of the current scene, moving Chinese characters and screening various film clips. The simple set up features a few surprises, Lui taking advantage of his familiarity with theatre conventions and the venue to create some startling moments. His enthusiasm to grab performance opportunities brings many smiles, such as the use of his own music score, smoke machine and back lighting for a ‘proper’ entrance after a stuttering start where he commences several letters that peter out.

The show’s core strength lies in Lui’s comfort in talking to the audience, it feels like being part of a cosy chat with him and a handful of close friends, his awareness of the potentials and limitations of the small venue making it work. Understanding his prolific contributions to the local scene is a key part of many of the jokes in this monologue, which may make Letters Home less compelling for those unfamiliar with Lui or his reputation. However there should be enough substance in content to carry it for anyone, especially with his well-considered timing, staging, swings between topics and cheeky grins that keep the pace lively.

This is a fascinating and intimate insight into the life and thoughts of Joe Lui. One feels that he has been incredibly generous with his revelations, as he is with his time and talents for the local performing arts scene.