On June 8th, Chinese actor Rob Chen launched a solo play titled “Laughter, Tears, Music, and Culture” at 21 Pell St. in Manhattan’s Chinatown. This original mini-drama not only brought laughter and introspection to the audience but also provided an important platform for communication within the Asian community, celebrating the richness and diversity of Asian culture.
The story begins with an Asian jazz pianist’s encounter, who was randomly assaulted by a group of teenagers during the pandemic, resulting in a broken collarbone. After recovering, he returned to the stage to perform a song and a simulated piano performance for the audience. Through gestures, monologues, and rich expressions, Rob Chen portrayed various characters including the pianist, a kind grandmother, a Black friend, and a Cantonese-speaking chef, exploring how Asians find healing and celebrate their cultural identity in challenging times through humor, music, and culture.
At 30 years old, Rob Chen is involved in theater, film/TV, and multimedia works. You may have seen him in TV shows like “Law & Order: SVU”, “The Sinner”, and “Billions”. During the pandemic, he lost performance opportunities but didn’t give up on creating. He started filming videos in his own room, creating the “Blu Room” series where he reveals truths through dialogues between different characters, showcasing his artistic insights and creativity.
Deacon Zhu Chaowei from the Chinese Baptist Church stated, “Anti-Asian hate is a serious issue, and Rob Chen has added vitality to it in a light-hearted manner, raising people’s awareness.”
Audience member Ouyang Xiao’an expressed uncertainty before watching the show on how Rob Chen would handle the tragic hate crimes in the city in a humorous way. After viewing it, she felt Rob Chen’s approach was appropriate but was still digesting the content.
Rob Chen explained, “Your question about how we use art to discuss the massive traumas affecting our community highlights the importance of an artist’s role. As artists, we aim to make people aware of these events, but our work goes beyond raising awareness. We also need to help people envision a better world.”
In his performance, Rob Chen sang several self-composed songs in Cantonese and English. He mentioned that these songs aim to convey optimistic messages to the audience: “I want the Chinese community to know that even on rainy days, the sun will shine tomorrow. No matter how deep the darkness, there is always light.”
In an interview, he expressed his hope to find a balance through his work, not just pointing out issues but also showing the strength and resilience of the Asian community, encouraging people to face challenges with humor, passion, and wisdom.
Rob Chen’s parents immigrated from Guangzhou to the US, and he was born and raised in New York. Through his performances, he aims to showcase the diversity and culture of Asian-Americans. He said, “Many people think Chinese people are shy and don’t understand our culture. I hope through my performances, others can see that Chinese people can sing, dance, and have a sense of humor.”
Asians have been underrepresented in the American entertainment industry, with most Chinese-American parents favoring professions like lawyers, doctors, and engineers. Rob Chen mentioned that his parents and relatives were in the medical field, initially opposing his choice to become an actor but eventually supporting his pursuit of his dreams.
He told his parents that when they were 30 years old, even without knowing English, they bravely came to America to chase their dreams. He finds this to be an incredible feat and wants to inherit their spirit to pursue his own dreams. He said, “It’s the same principle. With time, you realize you must go after your dreams.”
Rob Chen hopes to convey positive messages to the audience through his plays: “As long as you follow your dreams, your life will shine as brightly as a lantern, attracting all blessings and opportunities.”