Ting Lim is a new face on the Fringe but she will already be familiar to fans of the Aussie comedy Fisk – where she plays the intense and super scary lawyer Debbie Lim. Her show Asian but Wrong is all about growing up and confounding expectations. Her secret weapon is her Singaporean relatives – who are so over the top they are a gift to comedy.
Tell us about your show. Why should we go and see it?
My show is about what happens when the life you thought you wanted collides with the life you actually want. Growing up in Singapore, I believed a good education and marriage was the roadmap to happiness, like a lot of people my generation. Turns out there is more to life than that, and quite a lot of fine print nobody mentioned.
Moving to Australia, I found myself questioning everything I thought I knew. In the show, I talk about navigating family expectations, a failed long-term relationship, and what it means to exist between cultures and between versions of yourself.
There are hundreds of great shows at the Fringe. This one is funny, deeply personal, and asks a question a lot of people are quietly sitting with, “What happens when you do everything right and still end up somewhere completely unexpected?”
What is your favourite thing about your show?
Sometimes you have to exaggerate stories to make them land. My family saves me the trouble. My favourite thing is the family-arranged demon cleansing ceremony to cure my anxiety. It wasn’t just one person, the whole family signed off on it. Unanimously. We put the fun in dysfunctional.
Do you have a Fringe idol?
This is my first time, so asking me that is like asking someone for a Yelp review while they are still standing outside the restaurant. Check back in with me at my show at Edinburgh.
What three words best describe your performance style – and why?
Dry. Sarcastic. Witty. These are the words people use to describe my comedy. I would have said “a star in the making” or “the best thing since 5G”, but nobody asked me.
Who are you looking forward to seeing in Edinburgh?
Michelle Wolf. I just found out she is doing a show and I am very excited. I am a very big fan of hers. Michelle, if you are reading this, my email is open.
What do you hope to achieve in Edinburgh – what are your hopes and dreams?
Unlimited fame, a statue made in my honour and a free bus pass. Failing that, a really good time and to come out a better performer than I went in.
What are the biggest obstacles you face as a performer at the Fringe?
Getting people to pick my show out of hundreds. That and the mandatory fireworks. It has been very difficult getting gunpowder through customs. It is my first year, so I am assuming a lot of things. I will report back.
What do you hope the audience will take away after an hour in your company?
That not everything has to work out according to plan, and that is actually fine. Also that they laughed. Both would be ideal.
How do you plan to relax and recharge when not on stage?
Sitting in a cafe drinking coffee and watching people like an undercover spy. Or sleeping. Possibly both simultaneously if the conditions allow.
What is your idea of a perfect Fringe day?
A morning hike where I actually need sunscreen because the sun has shown up, which I have been told is an optimistic assumption about Edinburgh. A lovely breakfast. Then performing, and ending the night with a bucket of KFC whether I am celebrating or drowning my sorrows.
Asian, But Wrong is at two different venues – The Wee Room at Three Sisters from 6 – 16 and Slice2 at Hootw from 17 – 30
Asian, But Wrong Wee Room @ Three Sisters, August 6-16, 14.30
Asian, But Wrong Venue: Slice 2 @ Hoots, August 17–30 August: 17:20
