Theatre review: My Little Tomato serves up juicy fun
Drag and dazzle pervade playwright Rick Tae’s queer rom com
Taylor Kare and Nelson Wong, My Little Tomato. Photo by Sarah Race
Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre and Zee Zee Theatre, in association with rice & beans theatre, present My Little Tomato at the Cultch Historic Theatre to March 19
PLAYWRIGHT RICK TAE’s My Little Tomato follows Keaton Chu (Nelson Wong), an ex-kindergarten teacher who has to take charge of his parents’ farm after they suddenly die, and Joe McKinley (Taylor Kare), a produce wholesaler. The two learn to look beyond their insecurities to make space for one another in their lives, the pair’s sprouting relationship aided by a scrumptious tomato that turns into a drag queen named MLT (My Little Tomato, played by Shay Dior). The juicy fruit is not only a symbol of serendipity but also acts as the pair’s over-the-top sex advisor. Directed by Cameron Mackenzie, the quirky rom com is a rollercoaster of romance, snappy dialogue, and fruity fun.
Keaton and Joe find themselves navigating their queerness, cultural identities, and age difference; at 25, Joe is much younger than Keaton and can’t understand his flame’s obsession with a pop star named Cher, who has done wonders for the visibility of the queer community. Keaton, who’s of Chinese heritage, also helps Joe take pride in his half-Japanese ancestry. Joe, meanwhile, wonders if his handsome new love interest likes him for his looks or for who he is. The two grapple with other issues: Keaton is figuring out how to run a farm while struggling with memories of sexual trauma; Joe craves validation from his family while wanting out of their long-time business.
The two have very different approaches to life, which adds tension to their deepening relationship. There’s also a lot of hilarious running around in boxer shorts to compensate for all the melodrama.
Jokes on Asian stereotypes are mixed with moments of intimacy and vulnerability. Mingled with sexual innuendoes, Joe’s therapy-related humour does not make for dull moments. Plus, there is plenty of eco-eroticism with MLT teaching Joe how to get the juices out.
Sophie Tang’s smart set design features a tub at centre-stage full of brightly coloured plastic balls; it’s alternately used as a crate of farm produce, a bed, and even a pornographic dreamland. Choreographer Ted Littlemore creates physical interactions that accentuate the characters’ chemistry, while Mary Jane Coomber’s upbeat scene transitions keep the production on pace. The narrative drags somewhat toward the end of the work with what seems like a never-ending list of insecurities and a recurring conflict-resolution sequence. But with dazzle and dance moves, My Little Tomato is a crazy ride that shows how love can go all sorts of unexpected ways when it’s ripe and ready.
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