Lesley in Hong Kong

Hamlet - National Theatre - The One, TST, Hong Kong

http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/productions/ntlout10-hamlet

 

                                                                      Set at The Barbican 

People of Hong Kong!

 

I implore you to check the schedules of our movie theatres and look out for the National Theatre, London, productions which are now being screened regularly.

https://www.britishcouncil.hk/en/programmes/arts/national-theatre-live

 

There's a bar

They really are very like an actual theatre experience and a most enjoyable evening out.  There is usually a 20 minute interval, just like an actual performance, where everyone can make use of the bar, have a leg stretch and a toilet break.

Costumes

The most recent one I attended was last weekend at The One, 100 Nathan Road, when I saw the marvellous Benedict Cumberbatch as Hamlet.  It was spectacular.  He was spectacular.   The staging was spectacular.  I was particularly taken with the costumes which were, for the most part, 1940s style apart from Hamlet, Horacio and Ophelia who wore modern casual clothes, hoodies and jeans.  After the 'play with-in the play' scene Cumberbatch wore a long military tail coat with the words 'KING' crudely painted across his back which was quite amusing and under the coat a Ziggy Stardust t-shirt.   I doubt it had any significance to the recent and shocking death of David Bowie as it would have been recorded months ago in London, but it did make me think  - why Ziggy? 

 

Jekyll & Hyde - Jonathan Holloway's

Chung Ying Theatre Company

1 - 10 May 2015

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre,  HKAPA

Wan Chai

Hong Kong

 

We are all aware of Robert Louis Stevenson's story, Dr Jekyll experiments with a substance and turns into a hideous monster at night.  In Jonathan Holloway's version Dr. Jekyll is a woman.  

The setting is still Victorian London with a magnificent stage set reflecting the fact that it is being performed in Hong Kong.  Stunning red silk lanterns were hung above the gothic room. The cast, a mixture of Chinese and English actors, and if I say everyone had a hint of Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton on Halloween I'm sure you'll understand the general vibe.

Performed in English with Chinese and English subtitles, I always find that slightly distracting but I understand their reasons, with dialogue packed with euphemisms  about sex.  Are all euphemisms about sex?  "Would you like to open the petals of my purple orchid?" "Will your stamen enter my flower while still lubricated by another?"  I may not have those quotes completely accurate but that was the gist of the lines.   There were rather a lot of references to sex in the whole production, while not explicit, we couldn't have that in conservative Hong Kong now could we (we were in Wan Chai!).

In this version we see Dr. Jekyll as a woman, yet a scientist, the ONLY woman doctor in London at that time struggling to break the stereotype placed upon her gender, rebelling against conformity of marriage and family life, choosing to experiment alone in her explorations of substances and what-do-you-know she is quite the temptress.  We see shadowy scenes through the opaque bathroom door of two bodies together, items of clothes being removed and illicit pleasure being had.

And so when 'she' becomes Hyde she becomes a man.  In this persona, which isn't revealed until much later in the play, she is a lout, a violent rapist and we have to presume a transexual because of the comments about his/her ability to rape.  Olivia Winteringham who plays Jekyll and Hyde is a slight woman and when she appears as the man, Hyde, she has blood stained bandages around her chest area eluding to her having sliced off her breasts?  Well this is what you get with gothic literature.

I do question the power of this play to shock though, we already know the story and to put a woman as Jekyll as a tool to twist the plot seemed not enough of a shock in our 21st Century transgender sexual equality world.  Perhaps a man dressed as a woman playing a woman as a man and then turning into a man played by a woman as a man would have made us think more.  Oh hang on, Shakespeare has already done that!

 

 

 

 

Sweet and Sour Productions Ltd - Macbeth

The Fringe Club is an excellent and intimate venue for a production of Shakespeare's most intriguing tragedy.  Affording the audience a closeness to the emotion with selected key scenes to move the plot swiftly on, Sweet and Sour Productions, directed by Candice Moore from Edinburgh, opened with those Weird Sisters (Jacqueline Gourlay Grant, Hamish Campbell and Vicki Rummun).   They cast their manipulative spell over our hero, Macbeth (Nicholas Atkinson), and then dominated the play with their constant presence and the notion that it is their magic, their bubbling concoctions and their will that infects Macbeth with his ambition to become King of Scotland and subsequent downfall.   That's why it's called a tragedy, he dies!  It's not a plot spoiler, I don't feel I have to avoid giving away the ending.  We don't go to see Macbeth to find out what happens, we already know (don't we?) we go to see how it's done.  In this production there is a focus on the three witches who lurk in every corner seen and unseen and play Macbeth like a puppet.  It's wonderful. 

I loved the costumes which had an Alexander MacQueen/Vivienne Westwood tartan vibe going on and, unless a Scottish person disagrees with me, I couldn't fault the Scottish accents.

Lady Macbeth (Muriel Hoffman) was hateful, as she must be, and I was particularly impressed with the fight scene between Macbeth and Macduff (Henry Coombs) which was expertly choreographed and executed (pun intended).

Sweet and Sour Productions Ltd are an adaptable and talented lot who are not to be missed.  I shall certainly be looking out for their next production.  

 

Dunsinane - Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre

 

A production by the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

2nd - 4th May this prestigious production was performed in Kwai Tsing Theatre.  The nearest MTR station, Kwai Fong, exit B to be precise.  

 The Venue

I really cannot stress enough just how smart this theatre is.  I assumed that because I was going to Kwai Fong in the New Territories on a Saturday night it would be something of a sub standard forgotten building.   How wrong I was.  Kwai Tsing Theatre is beautiful, modern, clean with an excellent sound system.  The toilets were great, plenty of them and all well stocked, and most importantly the temperature was just right.  There was no freezing arctic moments to contend with.  What more could one want from a night out at the theatre?  Oh yes, now I remember.  A bar. 

Everyone expects a glass of wine at the intermission, don’t they?

 

Dunsinane is set in 1054 Scotland, written by David Greig in 2010. It is a dramatic sequel to MacBeth.  Just exactly what does happen to Scotland after the death of brave MacBeth?  Is MacDuff king?  Do Malcom's sons return to claim their right to the thrown?  These and more questions will be answered in Dunsinane.  

 Cheeky Sequel

Is it cheeky to write a sequel to a great Shakespeare work?  

It certainly is, and that's why it is so wonderful.  As we all know sequels can be bad.  Part 2’s can be awful,  with the exception of Toy Story 3 obviously.  Perhaps because hundreds of years have passed since the original work, it can be described as cheeky to take liberties; such as keeping Lady MacBeth alive and kicking, not particularly as bonkers as she was the last time we heard her scream and then go silent as she jumped from a balcony.  I suppose if Bobby Ewing can wake up and it all be a dream and Jean Rhys can rename Bertha, the mad woman in the attic in Jane Eyre, Antoinette, then Lady MacBeth, henceforth known as Gruach, can be alive. 

It is an excellent play and I suspect even more well received in Scotland prior to the coming referendum.  Keep those English out! 

 

Shakespeare in the Port - Taming of the Shrew

Festival of Shakespeare,

The Podium,

Cyberport,

Hong Kong

 

http://www.cyberport.hk/campaign/cyberlink/vol024/detail_page_4.html

 

20^th April 2014   Easter Sunday.

 

http://www.ticketflap.com/en/events/174/

 

 

I don’t go and see Shakespeare for the plot. I go and see how it is done.  The stage direction is truly up to the director and any form of creativity can be used.  This is the interesting aspect.  So going to an outdoor stage on a Sunday afternoon was intriguing.  Staging this play in an outside open arena, which relied on the voice projection of the cast with no microphones, back drop, curtains or lighting was a major challenge for most of the actors.  The Podium at Cyberport is an area suitable for 2,000 people and with some more creative seating ideas the few who were watching this play could have had a much better experience instead of the scattered and informal arrangement on Sunday.

 

I do really commend the organizers for this event and the very fact that it will continue until 4^th May is wonderful.  Bringing Shakespeare to the masses in an informal manner is an attempt to make it accessible to all. Encouraging the presence of young children is also good.  It was unfortunate that on Easter Sunday not many people came along.  The organizers attempts at having a family fun day in the open, sterile atmosphere of The Podium left us feeling lost in a shadeless space on a very hot day.  There was definitely not enough to keep us there for more than one play.   There seemed to be lots of staff but no one really knew what to do.  Perhaps on the days when the tickets are $150 and not $300 would equal more people?

 

I counted 50 people towards the closing act of Taming of the Shrew on Sunday.  This number drifted in and out throughout and was not consistent.  During the performance children played or became restless and had to be distracted in other ways towards the building at the back.  That resulted in more distracting noise, as well as the helicopter flying overhead and the ships in the port.   The slightly sloping arena with a low step and grass area was uncomfortable and undefined. The usual reverence offered to a drama was missing and, therefore, the hushed silence as the ‘curtain’ is drawn and the lights come on was lost. 

 

The actors valiantly played on.  Kate and Petruchio were outstanding.  I admired their energy tremendously and as it should be I did laugh at the comedic moments.  This is what Shakespeare wanted his audience to do and it did not pass me by that the original production would have been to a rowdy sweaty crowd in the day time with no electrics to enhance the sound.  And it could have rained, but it didn’t, so that was positive!

 

 

Macbeth by William Shakespeare - Hong Kong Players Ltd. April 2014

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Production by Hong Kong Players Ltd

Hong Kong Arts Centre, Mcaulay Studio

2nd - 5th April, 2014

David Mersault - Macbeth, Thane of Glamis

 

Macbeth is one of the most performed Shakespearean tragedies, so I put it to you that going to see it is not about the plot or who dunnit or what happens at the end.  It is about how it is performed.  There is no need to alert any one about a plot spoiler because, well, you know who dies.

The Mcaulay Studio is small, seating only 76, if you all squash up cozy. Being so close to the actors, who are at floor level, the same as the first row, is intimate and a little scary, in a good way.  Perhaps not that good for latecomers who find themselves having to almost say 'Excuse me' to the actors as they attempt to be invisible and find a seat after it has started.  I hope those late comers get their act together in future and manage to be on time like the rest of us!

The set

A completely black minimalist set, with the throne at the centre for the whole performance, two swords hanging at the back and a black box to stand on to show power were the only items on stage.  All entrances and exits were simple with an interesting freeze of action to cross cut to another time and place.  This was an extremely effective technique which moved the plot along without the necessity for physical scene changes.

 

Costume

All characters were dressed in contemporary clothes of black or white with a subtle flash of red to represent all those things that temptress colour can symbolise. Passion, death, blood, anger, danger, war... Their weapons were guns and knives of various sizes.

 

Weird Sisters

The opening scene gave us those three weird sisters who we all love to hate and their presence on stage for much of the performance was wonderful.  Two young ones and one lady of a certain age who played the Punk Witch,  a terrific touch.  They each carried a large pole which they 'banged' on the floor at crutial points.  This was just one of many powerful moments of the performance.  Yes, it made us all jump.   The witches were involved in the death scenes, delivery of letters and phone calls bringing bad news and lead us to believe it was their prophecy and their meddling that made poor old Macbeth do the 'deed' which then brought him enough guilt to fill his mind with those scorpions he speaks of.  Their role stressed the importance of magic and witchcraft making us believe it was their prophecy and spells that made everything go so horribly wrong.

Macbeth

David Mersaultis a talented actor who made us believe it was only him who could see Duncan or Banquo as ghosts.  His portrayal of Macbeth was truly excellent.  The passion between him and Lady Macbeth was evident as well as his weakness and guilt as he deteriorates into a defeated man.  We need to see more of him in the future. 

That bitch (plot spoiler alert)

I like the idea of blaming the witches because I've always felt Lady Macbeth (that bitch) pushed her husband into brutally killing the King while he was asleep in his bed and then, pretended he had no idea how it had happened and then, because he wasn't sleeping too well at night, took it upon himself to arrange for the death of his best friend Banquo and then the wife and young children of Macduff.  While the whole incident filled Mr and Mrs Macbeth with incredible guilt, enough for her to top herself, Macbeth continued, as best he could, in his new King role believing that no man not born of women existed or Burnham Wood could get up and walk.  

Oh how wrong he was!

The young MacDuff and his death scene must get that young man an A* is whatever drama course he is on?

Music and Lights and even smoke 

There was smoke, there was the music of Nick Cave, there was a multi media video showing red blood and skulls.  This all added to the experience and a very unique production of Macbeth.  I did find that the music wasn't faded enough at certain points so the delivery of some crucial lines was lost.  This is a minor point and I do applaud Adam Harris for his dedication and commitment to theatre in Hong Kong.  This was a truly powerful production, full of witchcraft, fight scenes, murder, violence and lots of blood.  Isn't it marvellous that Shakespeare wrote this for an audience in 1606 and those themes and exploration are still a full-on family favourite today.

 

 

 

Abigail's Party - Hong Kong Players

Hong Kong Players Limited

Abigail's Party

by Mike Leigh

Directied by Jodi Gilchrist

McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre, February 26th - March 1st, 2014

 1977 BBC Play for Today  

 

It did exactly what it said on the tin.  It was indeed a painful 100 minutes of British comedy.  I squirmed and cringed my way through the crass awkwardness feeling like an intruder, furtively peeking in through the net curtains at a party I wasn't invited to, but a party I desperately wanted to be part of.  

The scene is a chink of 1970s suburban life played out to the soundtrack of Donna Summer's Love to Love you Baby and Jose Feliciano's Come on Baby Light my Fire with a back drop of Novamura wallpaper.   

I wanted to look away, but at the same time I was compelled to see it out so I could be privy to the details of Beverly's party.  Beverly, hatefully portrayed by Moe Moss, with her lid to brow shock of eye make-up, matching her maxi dress,  flirted and schmoozed her way through the evening attending to her guests every need, poisoning them with her hospitality and exposing herself as the ignoramus Laurence knows she really is.  

Ange, played by Kath O'Connor, is so glibly unaware that the rest of the guests, including monosyllabic husband Tony, Jim Lewis, about-to-burst-a-blood-vessel Laurence, Chris Guiness, and of course Sue, Gail Southward,  are just as much irritated by her childish naivety as they are by Bev's superfluous hostess skills.  

As if is is not enough that we are subjected to witnessing the consumption of  pineapple and cheese on sticks, the persistent and irritating offering of cigarettes from a decorative cigarette box on the coffee table and the constant bickering between the hosts, we also have to watch, horrified, while Sue is slowly discharged of all dignity and Laurence becomes so incessantly stressed by Beverly's persona of kitchness he keels over and *dies.

If I had been a little more prepared I could have brought a cushion to hide behind during the closing scene so I could have shielded my delicate eyes from the unceremonious scrabble on the Berber rug and gone to bed thinking everyone went home and lived happily ever after...

I absolutely loved every moment of this production.  I had high expectations before taking my seat but I was not disappointed in any way.  

*I thought about this as a spoiler alert but frankly this play has been around since 1977 and if you don't know how it ends it's your fault. 

 

 

A Clockwork Orange - by Action to the World Theatre Company, London - Hong Kong tour

A Clockwork Orange directed by Alexandra Spencer-Jones

by Anthony Burgess

November 6-10 2013

Lyric Theatre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

 

‘An outstanding all-male ensemble. The pure physicality and energy is astonishing. This is a show that everyone should experience.’★★★★★ WhatsOnStage

My ticket purchase was made months ago in order to secure a seat and experience this production.  A mixture of anxious anticipation with the possibility of having my senses battered and overwhelmed confused me.  My own experience of watching Stanley Kubrick's version had  left me disturbed and horrified but in no doubt that it is an excellent movie.

Extreme Cinema - Mark Kermode speaks  I highly recommend you take 4 minutes to listen to the good Doctor introducing A Clockwork Orange on Channel 4 who explains the background and why it was banned in 1971.

The simplistic black set with only a black table and chairs meant the actors used minimal props to symbolize and move the plot on.  The ensemble of nine males played every role, including the female character.  Dressed in black trousers and either a white vest or a black vest with contrasting black or white braces was occassionally supplemented with a sneeky pop of something orange. 

Action to the World is a physical theatre company and their depiction throughout is balletic  and beautiful.  The implied violence through skilled choreography was enough to be explicit in the mind.  The Shakespearean delivery of the dialogue using Alex and his Droogs own language evoked a terrifying and enthralling experience, luring us in to the seedy violent world of disenchanted adolescence and gang boredom. 

It was utterly brilliant and without a doubt one of the best stage performances I have seen in Hong Kong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Le Crazy Horse Paris - Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong

Sexy Army   You Tube clip (take a peek!)

 

It was with immense anticipation that I took my seat in the Lyric Theatre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong on the evening of 19th September.  I bought the tickets feeling quite flushed with excitement at the very thought of watching a burlesque show.  Or was it that the high ticket price made my heart race?  I mean, what would my mother think?  It was billed as being an erotic performance for over 18s only.  

 

Please take some time to watch the You Tube clip which is the opening act of the show - Sexy Army.

 

Did you watch it?  What did you think?  My first thought was "Small tits"  then after a minute and a half of nothing much happening I thought "Yeh so, when does the erotic dancing start?"

The female form is a wonderful thing.  I appreciate the curves and their beauty.  Crazy Horse has been running for 60 years in a darkened intimate club where the audience is at close proximity to the nakedness and wine, possibly, is being consumed.  I can see that the term erotic is appropriate in such a context.  But in the soulless space of the A.P.A. and the comatosed audience that is the norm rather than the exception in Hong Kong on a Thursday night - frankly it was dull dull dull.

Oh yeh - apart from the bit when the super bendy flexible hip hop male dancer, fully dressed, wowed us with his moves.  That was great.

After the first couple of routines I looked at my friend and she looked back.  We shrugged with puzzled expressions.  We were still hopeful that it would get better, that it would actually become exciting.  The two elderly ladies with their tight grey curly perms in front of us were certainly well equipped with their binoculars - but I suspect they were as disappointed as we were.  It didn't get any better.  

We - meaning us - meaning the 21st Century - are used to sexy dancing.  We see it on MTV every day.  Beyonce and Britney have been doing it for years and doing it to a much higher standard.  Plus they can sing. A few girls with their tits and arses out - moving quite slowly, lacking excitement or originality just didn't cut it.  

 

Hong Kong Problems - the play - a review

 

There is singing, dancing and a cute guy with his shirt undone.

 

I went on a pilgrimage to see this play.  I am on Facebook and I 'liked' their page.  I followed various instructions and clicked on various points in order to find out the time, the place, the date and the price of the ticket.  I don't consider myself to be particularly technologically challenged but I found this information very difficult to see clearly from their page and so when I eventually made it to The Beating Heart theatre space (down a slope into a car park, up in an unmarked lift to the 8/F of Cheung Fat Building

7-9 Hill Road

Shek Tong Tsui

and paid my $150 I really felt quite proud to have succeeded in my mission to attend.   Of course the two members of the cast standing at the top of the aforementioned slope were a big clue and I was grateful for their prescence.  What I really needed was a much easier way to buy a ticket and a map to the venue.  Forgive me all involved but I live in Sai Kung afterall.

 

 

cast in action

 

Hash Tag HK Problems under score The Play, to give it its full and correct title, is a series of sketches depicting the moments of frustration we all feel at times, living and working as expats in this city of rules and regulations with his confounding language.  There are a few bloggers who do this online, me for instance, and Hong Kong Expattery is always funny (I wish it was mine) Hong Kong Expattery and probably many others.  Meaghan McGurgan and Eric Krueger have now gone one step further and made the concept into a stage play, it could even be called

Hash Tag HK Problems under score The Musical as there is much singing and dancing happening along the way. Oh and did I say it was funny?  Well it is.  I laughed a number of times throughout the performance and so did the audience and, therefore, it can be called Hash Tag HK Problems under score The Comedy Show too.

I found the cute (yes he was SO cute in those shorts) P3 student hilarious with his obsequious presentation skills which, no doubt, will carry him through the education system and into a leadership role in no time at all.  I could also relate to the question to the 'class' 'Why do we have red packets at Chinese New Year?" and answer is always "To get money" and no one ever knows anything else about it and I find myself, as the only westerner in the classroom, explaining traditions and rituals of Chinese New Year in Hong Kong to Chinese students! 

The rain scene with the very cleverly choreographed umbrellas and the fierce little old lady was particularly good and the 'dirty little secret' skit was good to include.  Although I wasn't entertained by the domestic abuse scene supposedly going on in the bedroom.  Perhaps a little too much of a generalising stereotypical view point which puts you in danger, on that pesky thin ice arena, of bordering on the offensive and steering a bit too far away from the comedy element which we were all there to enjoy.  And while I am on the subject of being entertained perhaps toning down the swearing would be funnier than relying on expletives to get the laughs and concentrate on the good material that you've got to work with?  Just saying.

 

Facebook page

 A taster of what to expect on the night.   How Not to be an asshole on the MTR

 

click to view and 'like'.

There is talk of Hash Tag HK Problems under score The Play being performed again this month and so look out on Facebook where you'll, hopefully, find clear instructions on when and where its on and how to buy a ticket. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One Man, Two Guvnors 41st Hong Kong Arts Festival 2013

If you didn't get your act together and booked your ticket for this wonderful event, which is part of the 2013 Arts Festival, way back in October, then you've probably missed your window of opportunity to see it in Hong Kong.  So you're going to be feeling totally frustrated and generally pissed off once you read my blog telling you how bloody marvelous it is.

It is bloody marvelous!

One Man, Two Guvnors is a brilliant play encompassing the basic elements of a British farce with very satisfying door swinging, mistaken identity and trousers down moments linked with Commedia dell'Arte  and based on Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters.  So if you don't know (I didn't) have a quick read on Wikipedia and learn.

Set in Brighton (which is interesting) 1963 our protagonist, Francis Henshall, a most cheeky chappy who is on stage for 99% of the time and holds the whole play together, while interacting with the audience as well as making us all believe and care about his character, even when he appears to go out of character - keep your wits about you - which was all part of the suspension of disbelief and I was suspended and believed hook line and sinker.

I loved the baddie, the cad the cavalier Stanley Stubbers, even though I wasn't supposed to,  but his line 'Smells worse than a doctor's finger' was, for me, one of the funniest of the night. 

I particularly loved the set which was large painted sections of movable walls with a nod to the era using 1960's colour and design (which means clashing, bordering on bad taste kitsch)  while at the same time tricked the eye resulting in a feel of the whole stage being much taller and deeper than it really is. 

I have to mention the band.  So refreshing in Hong Kong to have musicians on view and also looking cool.  As a special treat the boys in the band, think Buddy Holly/Beatles lookalike and soundalike, come up on stage at the beginning and during set changes to entertain.  Dressed in matching suits and skinny black ties, thier slicked backed quiffs and large horn rimmed glasses add to the 60's mood and I loved the metal vintage microphones.

I had a wonderful evening of entertainment in Wan Chai's Lyric Theatre and it was very convenient to partake in a little beverage or two in one of the many fine establishments after the play was over.  Hey hey!

You can get all sorts in Wan Chai

And Marks and Spencer's Food provides a very useful service.

Lady Gaga Hong Kong ticket sales unfair

I am not in with the in crowd.

I am not an American Express credit card holder.

I really thought that if the tickets to see Lady Gaga went on sale today then that is what it would mean.

I was SO wrong.

All sold out.

I really do think that if you camped out on the street to buy the tickets then you deserve one, but pre sales to American Express card holders....STINKS

Private Lives, McAulay Studio Theatre, Wanchai, Hong Kong

The comic masterpiece by Noel Coward The man

Private Lives

February 22nd-25th, 2012

McAulay Studio Theatre, Wanchai, Hong Kong  Website

Adam Harris, Director and Elyot Chase and much much more

Noel Coward (1899-1971) wrote Private Lives What Wikipedia says over the course of just four days while recovering from illness at the Peace Hotel in Shanghai. 

(Tenuous Hong Kong link)  He typed up his final manuscript while staying at the Peninsula Hotel in Kowloon. 

After a provincial tour the play had its London opening at the Phoenix Theatre on 24th September, 1930 with Coward himself as Elyot and Gertrude Lawrence as Amanda.  Victor was played by a very young Laurence Olivier.

In this satire the affectations and polite manners of the upper crust in the 1930s are exposed, and ultimately shattered, by giving the audience an intimate glimpse of life behind closed doors.  It shows that the human condition has no class boundaries so the horrors of domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and the inevitable breakdown of a relationship is just as pathetic for the upper classes as it is for the participants of a Jeremy Kyle talk show.  I am quite sure that the twists and turns of Elyot and Amanda's relationship have been used in every soap opera from Coronation Street to Dallas.

The farcical sequence of events the four main characters are subjected to are comedic, but just like a member of a Jeremy Kyle audience, squirmingly uncomfortable to witness.  Snorting cocaine, face slapping, drink slinging and bottle breaking are there to shock and seduce. 

The close proximity of the audience to the cast in the McAuley Studio creates an intimate feel.  To witness a drama performance  in this way makes the experience highly engaging.  Watching Elyot and Amanda being intimate on their sofa, as if at home, almost made me want to avert my eyes.  Were we eves-dropping, spying on them?  Were we supposed to be there so involved in the sexual tension?  Seeing them relaxing, guard down in night wear, a smidgen away from nakedness?

It was particularly enjoyable to see Adam Harris in his pyjamas and especially thrilling to see him with such a dapper, slicked-back,  hair cut.  He is captivating to watch and, when dressed,  his costume was elegant and stylish.   Surely the driving force in this production.

Who on earth dressed Amanda?  The opening scene featured a very flimsy black full length petticoat which was badly made and ill-fitting.  She left the scene to 'slip on a dress' and entered with an even worse cream shiny number, again flimsy, badly made and ill-fitting but this time the zip had broken.  I know it is easy to get things made in Hong Kong - so why not get something substantial that fits?  The awful dresses would probably not have been so noticeable if it hadn't been for the dreadful nylon wig which had a greeny, yellow tinge and in no way could have been mistaken for real hair - forget the wig go with your real hair!

The character of Sibyl was truly annoying. She was meant to be irritating, spoilt, immature and asian.  She succeeded.

Private Lives produced and directed by the irrepressible and dapper Adam Harris, the George Clooney of Hong Kong, was an excellent and brave production.  I highly recommend going to see future performances or productions where Adam is involved.

 

Coming soon Vincent, a one-man show about the artist Vincent van Gogh in May

 

 

 

DV8 Physical Theatre Can We Talk About This?

DV8 Physical Theatre

Can We Talk About This?

 

This production is currently on in London DV8 Physical Theatre National Theatre, South Bank

 

"It is very, very easy not to be offended by a book.
You just have to shut it."
Salman Rushdie

 

 

I watched in awe as DV8, the physical theatre company from England, delivered a very powerful message about free speech, Islam and multiculturalism in the west.  Whilst contorting themselves around doorways, upside down - in fact many different positions and speeds, I felt totally refreshed after listening to their message which was utterly correct.  I almost I forgot I was in conservative Hong Kong. The performance was 1hr 20m with no intermission and I had no concept of the time, it held my attention throughout.

I am now contemplating changing my teaching technique to incorporate physical movements such as drinking tea while sat on the back of a large male colleague who manipulates me around his body or standing on my head to put on a pair of trousers - all movements and positions will be designed to keep my audience enthralled and I will not miss a cue or even trip slightly as my lesson is delivered and, essentially, my students will remember it once they leave the room.

My only criticism is that it is so rare to have the opportunity to see such a high standard of contemporary physical theatre in Hong Kong and I want more. (stamping of foot)

Memories of King Kowloon - Exhibition TaiKoo Place

 


  Exhibition - 20th April - 31st May 2011  10am - 8pm

  Venue - ArtisTree  1/F Cornwall House, TaiKoo Place    FREE ADMISSION

  Nearest MTR  Quarry Bay

This History behind the man

This exhibition is a well thought out informative history of one of Hong Kong's most loved graffiti artists. Long before Banksy had even cut his first stencil Tsang Tsou-choi was using traditional Chinese calligraphy, with ink and a paint brush, to write his message on public spaces for the world to read.   Of course being unable to read Chinese the message, up until now, has been lost on me. 

Royal Blood

Now that the exhibition has enlightened me I know that he thought himself the rightful royal ruler of the Kowloon peninsula and his messages demanded he should be given total rule of all of Kowloon.  He objected to Elizabeth 1 being the colonial ruler so his first messages were addressed to her.  After the handover things didn't go quite as he expected and so he had to continue painting his messages for all to see.  After 1997 they were aimed at the Chinese government and he continued to claim that he was in fact the King of Kowloon.  He was still waiting for tax to be paid to him from Donald Tsang upon his death.  Tsang never replied to his tax demand which was painted on a wall in Kowloon!

It is estimated that over 51 years of scribbling in 80 locations over Hong Kong he generated 55,845 pieces of work and used 1,170 litres of ink. 

The Exhibition

The rooms are darkened with well lit exhibits not only of his work, of which there is miles, but of various artifacts from his life that have been preserved for posterity.  Some quite mundane memorabilia such as old felt tip pens and empty ink bottles claimed to belong to the King.  G.O.D. now uses some of his ideas and sells them as trendy items in their shops.  They have an alarm clock and a t-shirt adorned with the Kings calligraphy, now hot fashion items.  Buy now while stocks last!

Space Invader

During his lifetime his fame spread around the world and he was visited by Space Invader - graffiti artist , a famous American graffiti artist who placed one of his tile designs on the wall of the old folks home where he lived.  This has now been removed and is carefully displayed.  I am reliably informed this is worth thousands these days.

Local Talent

Students from local schools have used King Kowloon as inspiration for their own work and this is also on display and well worth a look.  Who says Hong Kong students cannot be creative? 

 

 

Gorilla Suit in Hong Kong

Is it real?

I am a proud mother, I don't deny it.  So have a look at my daughter's latest homework assignment.  She was asked to make a music video for her Media Studies course.  Click on the link and it will take you to You Tube where you can watch the video and listen to the music.  She borrowed two gorilla costumes from a children's party company then was filmed 'at large' in Hong Kong.  My daughter is the one wearing the scarf - otherwise she is unrecognizable!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGF8VULVSP4

 

Social Experiment

But I just have to comment on the social significance of this moment in time.  Where else in the world could you parade around on the streets of a busy 'world' city in a gorilla suit and not be acknowledged unless, of course, you jumped in front of people and scared the life out of them.  I think this says a lot about the compliance and inverted politeness, which may be misconstrued as aloofness, of Hong Kong people.  They just want and expect things to be safe and to run on schedule, to be expected and routine.  When, unusually, two people in gorilla costumes board the MTR their reaction is either "Ignore" "look down" "pretend it is not happening " or to whip out their mobile phone and take a picture of it preferably with the standard two fingered peace sign.  This features in EVERY photograph ever taken by people from Hong Kong - if they don't do that particular pose then the photograph just gets deleted and lost forever.  

Hello!  Who the **** is Kitty?

often imagine Hong Kongers looking through their photograph albums looking at pictures of themselves in the same pose at various times of the year, all photos taken in shopping malls with some sort of Hello Kitty or Mini Mouse theme going on in the background.  How dull!

Cheese or Cheers?

Actually there are a few more standard 'take a photograph with me" poses.  As well as the two fingered peace sign there is the tongue out and sticking up to one side pose, this is borderline porn star but because of the naivety in this city it passes off as cute (some would say - but not me) and then there is the finger poked in the cheek pose while at the same time making a screwing motion with said finger, oh and obviously, the grin has to be unnaturally large and cheesy (or is that cheersy - saying 'Cheese' while having your photograph taken has been lost in translation and becomes 'Cheers'.

Dog Clothes

Oh and how could I forget photographs taken while posing but with the added interest of a dog dressed in clothes.  Come to Sai Kung on a Sunday afternoon and see this for yourself.

Tourist Reaction

Significantly the Western tourists on Nathan Road were the only ones to embrace the fun in the situation and have some sort of concept about how to react.  These people may possibly have travelledto other 'world' cities such as Paris or Barcelona or London and seen street theatre or just plain old busking.  They know it's for fun, they are on holiday and up for a good time.  Their reaction is different from the residents.

When I decide to do my Masters in Sociology I shall use this empirical evidence as the corner stone of my research.

Gig Experience - Elton John in Hong Kong

Elton now

Elton John performed in Hong Kong on 20th May and I witnessed it.  A jolly good showman he is too.

Elton then

At almost 1am (Yes I know, shocking isn't it?) I got into bed - this was a TUESDAY night with work the next day.  Horror of horrors I broke my routine and didn't have my Ovaltine before I was tucked up with a good book (reading glasses compulsory these days) by 10pm.  It must be a sign of old age that going out to see a 61 year old perform, him seated at his piano and me seated for 90% of the time, apart from Crocodile Rock, obviously, had a dramatic affect.  I was tired for 2 days after the event and it wasn't as if I was on the Chardonnay.

Bay City Rollers

My experience of gigs has really changed over the years and it all started with the Bay City Rollers in 1974.  When I got older and the Bay City Rollers became so uncool I melted their LPs on the fire and for years denied ever even liking them.  I truly wanted to have been ultra cool and been able to tell stories of the time I went to see David Bowie at Newcastle City Hall in 1974.  My attempt at getting a ticket involved saving up the ticket money and buying a postal order, for the value of five pounds I think, from the Post Office.  Dutifully sending it off to the City Hall only to have it returned it a week later stamped 'Sold Out'.  Newcastle was over an hour away on the bus and I couldn't afford the bus fare and the ticket.  Life is cruel sometimes.

The Globe Theatre Stockton on Tees

I have since got over the shame of The Rollers gig and can now recount proudly how I spent the whole time screaming from the circle balcony "Eric!" and dropping to my knees in a pre pubescent fake faint every time I imagined he glanced up at me.  No one else near by - ME!  And how when the gig was over me and my mates were involved in a kerfuffle outside the stage door at The Globe Theater, Stockton-on-Tees behind a line of policemen who did a sterling job at keeping us back by linking their arms and squashing us against the wall until we screamed even more.

I got home exhausted but thrilled by the experience and told my parents how fantastic it was and how much I screamed for Eric.  They laughed themselves silly about it for weeks and took the mickey out of me mercilessly!

1974 was a good year

I also saw Alvin Stardust and David Essex at the same venue circa November 1974 and have the ticket stubs somewhere to prove it.

Alvin  Stardust          David Essex

Gary Glitter

As luck would have it I was also a big Gary Glitter fan and have seen him five times.  Those gigs have involved being squashed up against the stage at St. George's Hall in Bradford trying not to spill my drink avoiding other people's mad dancing, fag ends and spilt beer while three lads sitting on each other's shoulders looked like they would topple over on to the crowd at any minute.   Health and safety wasn't an issue.  Nowadays I just keep quiet about those Christmas concerts as old Gazza is locked up safely somewhere in Cambodia.

Peter Noon                  Lonnie Donagan

My first LP was The Hits of Lonnie Donegan and my first single was Herman's Hermits Something is Happening.  I was so misguided.

Sex Pistols           Johnny Rotten

Rock Garden Middlesborough

My brother was much cooler than me.  In the late 70's he was a punk and went off to see unknown bands at The Rock Gardens in Middlesborough with his inky black hair and his PVC trousers.  He saw Debbie Harry, The Buzzcocks and the Sex Pistols to name a few, and came home smelling of beer and fags with remnants of spit on his t-shirt.  His record collection is now worth something while my Osmonds and Steeleye Span LPs have been wrapped in brown paper and disposed of years ago.

Gigs for Oldies

Gigs these days are so much more orderly.  No pushing to get to the front, hardly any screaming and certainly no smoking.  You can get home smelling almost fresh out of the shower after a well ordered night out.  Or - is it just that the last few people I have seen have all been over 60 in Hong Kong.  I must write a note to myself to go and see someone at least younger than me and in the charts now.

After a quick search I find that young slip of a thing - Madonna has been number one for a few weeks...

 

Georgie Fame

 

Grappas

On Friday night I went to see Georgie Fame.  This was a last minute decision.  I didn’t even see it advertised but found out about it by word of mouth.  What a fantastic night it was! At a guess I would say Georgie Fame is now in his middle 60’s.  I wouldn’t have recognized him in the street.  He was old and grey.  But the voice is just the same.  The venue was intimate, Grappas in Central, and he talked a lot in between numbers telling stories about The Flamingo Club and the greats he has played with over the years.  I just loved it.  During the break Fred shared a urinal with him.  Impressed aren’t you. I told you it was intimate!

 

Don't Panic

Then on Saturday night I had another musical experience.  Fred sang with his new band. 114°East in The Wanch in Wan Chai.  For those of you who know the history of Fred’s musical career you all know that he can sing, he does sing, he has sang many, many times.  But since we have been in Hong Kong he has not done much of this. They did one set which included Lady Madonna, Tainted Love and Come up and See Me ending with, you’ve guessed it, Mustang Sally (Ride Sally Ride) The place was a rockin, as they say.  The resident band, Don’t Panic, then did their bit as they do most weekends.  It was a great night, lots of fun with opportunities to shimmy.  The Wanch is a small bar; there is just not enough room for a fully fledged jive!

 

Two very different musical experiences, both great fun.  Although my ears are still ringing.  Is it my age?

 

The photos are John, Rock God and lead singer of Don’t Panic.  And Old Georgie Fame.  I have trailed my files and cannot find one picture of Fred singing.  Watch this space…