Huayi Festival
Production Still from What is Man – Huayi Festival 2008
It’s that time of the year again, when Chinese New Year is around the corner, and Esplanade is putting on its 10 Day Huayi Festival. It’s curation has always been pleasantly diverse, yet quirkily artistic – someone’s got taste at the Esplanade. Was tempted by several productions but decided to pare my selection down to 2. Just got my tickets online to Like Shadows and What is Man.
What is Man because of its interesting publicity / production shots, and also because it stars Zhang Xiao Quan from Eternal Summer. I guess that’s why a lot of people want to watch the production too – to see how he fares on stage, from the trailer clip on Huayi’s Website, he comes across with good stage presence and competent in his delivery. But its going to a marathon! It’s a freaking 200 min long production (inclusive of a 20 min break). Based on the chinese classic Water Margin, i think it should be quite a verbose cerebral experience.
Like Shadows because of two words – Stan Lai. He directed one of the best mandarin plays I’ve seen in recent times, Love in Peach Blossom Land, which was staged as part of last year’s Huayi Festival. I felt as a play, Love in Peach Blossom Land was extremely “complete”. The synopsis sounds interesting too, and i’m interested to see what magic he can conjure up this time.
One of his other short plays that left a deep impression was when he directed a segment in a series commemorating the late Mr. Kuo Pao Kun called “Singapore Impromptu” – inspired by Beckett’s Ohio Impromptu. A simple existentialist piece, with only 2 players on stage. Contemplative and magical.
Still considering whether to watch Lim Giong’s Sound Seed Project. My dear friend Isis is the production manager for the show and it’s her pet project for the moment. I was invited to a preview last week and it was a valiant effort considering it was a work in progress. I can’t wait to see the final piece – its an experimental soundscape with lights, projections and interactive media. With a religious theme of generation / regeneration / cycle of life.
If you are not familiar with Lim Giong’s name, he did one of my favourite soundtracks – Millennium Mambo. It’s the techno Hou Hsiao Hsien film starring Shu Qi. He was also involved in creating the soundtrack for several other HHH films, and has even acted in them.
Ok, those are my 3 recommendations, see you at the Festival this year.
January 13, 2008 at 1:17 am
I didnt realise it was a lengthy production (I bought my ticket on the 6th). It will be my second time to watch a play staged in Mandarin so will need to work doubly hard to catch the visuals and the onscreen translation.
January 15, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Hi Zihan,
I think the CNY will be very beautiful this year in Chinatown. I hope you enjoyed your dinner tonight at Deli Vege. I want to say hello, but I do not want to be rude to interrupt your dinner. Cheers! Ben
January 16, 2008 at 3:03 am
Hi Ben,
Haha, next time can just say hi, were you sitting alone? or part of the couple? Just curious.
Cheers
Zihan
January 16, 2008 at 9:41 pm
haha. what do you think?!
My table is next to the cash register, I was facing you! Now I know you do not mind, I will say hello to you when I see you next time. Do you know if there will be DVD release of Pleasure Factory? I want to share this movie with my friends overseas. Take care, Ben
February 7, 2008 at 10:21 pm
u can forget abt the water margin show… it was slammed in taiwan by insiders.. meaning techs working on the show. incredible boring
February 8, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Ben: DVD if Pleasure Factory should be out soon, should be internationally released under Strand Releasing if i am not wrong.
Can check back on their website now and then. 
Sin: Ok,
But at the same time there are quite a few good reviews out there too… so will just keep an open mind
February 14, 2008 at 11:18 am
hi zihan,
i stumbled upon your site as i was looking for reviews on ‘what is man?’. unfortunately this post was not a review, but that’s okay!
wasn’t it incredible?!?! (apart from the fact that it got really draggy towards the end) 4/5 stars in my opinion
hope you liked it too.
joseph chang was HOT!
February 14, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Hi Zihan,
Saw you last night. How do you find the show?
Personally, I like it very much.
February 14, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Yes, it was worth the ticket price
But still i felt it was a bit too much to ask for 3 1/2 hours of undivided attention from the audience.
The pace in the 2nd half sagged a little with some somewhat superfluous bits. But at the same time, some of the most powerful texts was also in the 2nd half.
Use of multimedia and production design quite immaculate and interesting.
Acting was good too.
well directed and tight 1st half…
February 19, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Haha. I have the same views too.
Some of my friends were bored and sleepy after the show. I was wide awake cos I really like their acting and very interested in the plot.