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Kevin Kwong

Cowboy vs Samurai
Looking Glass Productions
Fringe Studio
Reviewed: Dec 11
American playwright Michael Golamco's Cowboy Versus Samurai is loosely based on Edmond Rostand's   Cyrano de Bergerac.  In his  version, what comes between the protagonist and his love interest is not a large nose but his skin colour.
The play looks at racial prejudice  from the Asian-American point of view, exploring how cultural differences and  misconceptions can divide people.  Director Paul Sheehan   opted  to take a light and humorous approach, focusing on two men's journey of self-discovery through friendship and love.
Travis (Eric Ng)  and Chester (Gerome Samonte)  are the only Asian-Americans living in the all-white cowboy town of Breakneck until the beautiful  Veronica Lee (Patricia Chiu)   arrives. The men  are instantly taken  with her and devastated when they find out she only dates white men.
Chester, proud of his Asian   roots, is perturbed by her choice  while Travis accepts it.  Travis complicates matters by agreeing to help his cowboy friend Del (Mike Paleos, right) write love letters to Veronica.
Golamco's script is sharp, thoughtful and witty and the cast did a superb job in getting the comic sense across. Samonte's Chester is a maniac stuck in an identity crisis.  His obsession with all things Asian is both frightening and endearing. Paleos  plays the goofy Del with both humour and sensitivity.
Ng  is too intense, turning the shy and confused Travis into a moody  brooder while Chiu's performance was marred by a lingering cough.



Cowboy vs Samurai