one4review | On 18, Aug 2025

No Sugar No Milk (Prototyping) drops us into a bustling Hong Kong cha chaan teng, where waiters in crisp whites turn everyday service into circus, dance and martial-arts theatre. Five performers volley and stack an absurd, yet amazing-to-watch, tower of boxes that finally tumbles with giddy relief. From there the diner becomes a playground for set pieces: a tablecloth tug-of-war synced to onstage beatboxing; a silken slow-motion brawl set to stately classical strains; a language-barrier skit where “orders” are answered in rhythm; and a slapstick mouse chase that escalates into jump-rope and cage-spinning feats. Later, a glowing glass-ball routine bathes the room in bubbles; a phone call from “the boss” jolts the pace, and a huge rolling wheel arcs across the floor.

The show is brisk, good-natured, and delightfully odd. The beatboxer stitches scenes together with solid beats. The room rides a pleasing swing between rowdy ensemble play and finely tuned acrobatics, human planks, shoulder stands, clean lifts and gentle collapses. Even when chaos reigns, the performers’ charm reads as staff camaraderie: protect the guest from the mouse, sneak a taste of butter, and get the dish out, no matter what. The emotional throughline is warmth, choreography, and service with care.

The strengths of this show are clear: inventive object play (boxes, cloths, chopsticks), crisp comedic timing, and a cast who can flip from clowning to superb acrobatics. If you like your circus with heart, your dance spiked with mischief, and your theatre scented with buttered scones, this is a feel-good, crowd-pleasing recommendation.

*****

Reviewed by Matthew

Assembly George Square Studios

Until 17 Aug