Review: Open Source Intelligence and Counterinsurgency for the Jobbing Hater, The Space

Open Source Intelligence and Counterinsurgency for the Jobbing Hater is, frankly, a brilliant title, and the premise is even more interesting. Chinese actor Lili stalks on social media another actor, Eve, because they are the same casting type. This obsession unravels Lili’s anger issues and closest relationship, to the point where she needs to address her emotional problems.

Gawa Leung’s writing manages the difficult balancing act of being poignant and funny. There are strong comedic moments, including Lili running into her ex-boyfriend ‘accidentally’ in the supermarket in the building where he lives, and scenes that deftly mix comedy and drama, such as a childhood conversation with Lili’s mum that is both absurd and heartbreaking.

The characterisation is strong, and the many characters each feel like believable people. The effect of anger and self-hatred is made palpable as it destroys Lili’s relationship with her boyfriend Sam. This gives the drama emotional punch and the comedy a bittersweet edge.

The three cast members (Leung, Lorraine Yu and Lavan Jeyarupalingam) deliver captivating performances, playing a wide variety of roles in both human and bunny puppet form. The standout is from Gawa herself as Lili, vividly conveying Lili’s trauma and making her sympathetic in even her most destructive moments.

Issues related to obsession, self-hatred and anger are investigated, but the humour means that the tone is not too miserable. The comedy also satirises industry casting standards (especially for East Asian women), the ease with which personal information is broadcast on social media, and how we pour our hearts out to strangers on the internet.

An impressive array of mediums are blended, from William Shakespeare’s “Tell Sad Stories of the Death of Kings” speech in Richard II, to Muay Thai, puppetry and anime music. This, along with a sharp script, gives the show strong pacing.

As the narrative progresses, the scope becomes wider. We travel into Lili’s childhood abuse, which presents some of the most moving parts of the story that add a lot of depth to her character. The difficult lives of Lili’s parents and grandparents are layered on top, to explore the intergenerational nature of abuse. Then geopolitics and the history of China, such as the Cultural Revolution, are brought in to show how these larger forces shape the pain of these characters. Throughout this, the focus is kept on Lili and how it relates to her emotional problems.

The climax recentres Lili, ending on a hopeful and poignant note, a highlight of this emotional rollercoaster. From studying Lil’s pain, I learned about the Chinese experience and gained a deep insight into another culture. From the way it was brought to life, I felt a connection with Lili that was universal.

Written by: Gawa Leung
Directed by: Tess Adèle Glinert
Sound design by: Morik Liang
Composed by: Filippo Galli
Lighting/set design by: Zidi Wu

Open Source Intelligence and Counterinsurgency for the Jobbing Hater plays at The Space until Saturday 21 June.