A young British-Chinese woman falls in love with a wealthier white boy and the relationship goes wrong, gradually and then suddenly, in this assured 75-minute monologue, written by Ava Wong Davies and compellingly performed by Sabrina Wu. It has echoes of Kristen Roupenian’s viral New Yorker story Cat Person but explores issues beyond gaslighting and toxic masculinity. Underneath, it’s a story about privilege.
Nina grew up in her parents’ Chinese restaurant, switching between English and Cantonese, chewing her cuticles and apparently desperate to escape. When we meet her she’s in a grotty flatshare in Haringey, working as a receptionist for a handsy boss, possibly drinking and smoking a bit much (but weren’t we all, at her age?).
