Urban Theatre Projects latest theatrical offering is a saucy and irreverent departure from their usual fare, created by two utterly unique and charismatic performers – Effie Nkrumah and Alan Lao. As the inaugural show for the new Bankstown Arts Centre theatre, this is an bright and fun start to the theatre. Billed as “Part stand-up, part-theatre, part live-to-internet cooking show,” there is more medicine to this sugary pill, than first meets the eye.

After falling in love at at cooking convention in Chinatown, Ama and Chan marry, and before long are confronted with the inconveniences of tardy/negligent removalists, demanding/disapproving in-laws and the arrival of a very dashing “friend”, Frank. In an attempt to build their lives together, they agree to hosting a Ghanian/Chinese fusion cooking show, in order to sky-rocket to fame and fortune.

As soon as the lights dim, we are revved up by funky beats accompanying the colourful onslaught of a multi-media pastiche – Google maps, FaceBook, youTube, flick and scream, establishing all there is to know about the where and who of this Odd couple. Before long we are welcomed by Ama and Chan, we are addressed directly and it’s very clear, they know we are there. In the corner, a musician sits behind a drum kit, occasionally driving transitions, underscoring recorded sound.

The charm in the production comes from the Ama and Chan themselves – the chemistry and banter is great. The cultural body-slams are brilliant – fun- local- completely un-PC and has us whiteys reling with our own shame and self awareness of our whiteness. Dramaturgically, this new work is a little more variety show than theatre -and for those expecting a three act structure, and meaningful denouement, you’ll be left a little wanting… the overarching structure is confused as the characters flip between direct address/stand-up and traditional farcical 4th wall enactment. But director Drew Fairly had wrangled this wild comedic ride with great humour and generosity allowing the perfomer’s strengths to shine through. Ama and Chan is a fun, bright, unearnest, well paced, hilarious portrait of “fusion” Australia, and well worth the adventure to Bankstown.