Review: 'Wing Chun at The Saddlers Wells Theatre'
Director: 'Zhang Ling, Zhang Hua'
Writen By: 'Feng Shuangbai, Han Zhen, Zhou Liya'
- Starring: 'Chang Hongji, Zhang Yashu, Feng Haoran, Xu Tianhui, Li Jianting, Wang Jian, Zhang Zhenguo, He Junbo'
- Genre: 'Martial Arts'
- Release Date: '4.9.24.'- Catalogue No: 'Shenzen Opera & Dance theatre'
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Our Rating:
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We bought tickets to see the Chinese Ballet Wing Chun at The Saddlers Wells based on how much we like the poster we saw on the tube, without knowing too much about the actual ballet.
We were in the circle of the Saddlers Wells with great sight lines for this Ballet about Yip Man and his role in popularizing the Wing Chun form of martial arts in Hong Kong in the 1950's, where among his pupils was Bruce Lee who became one of his disciples aged 16.
The Ballet itself weaves Yip Man's tale of making his way to Hong Kong, his battle to set up his own school, with the making of the 1990's film Wing Chun by Shenzhen studios. So that while we watch Chang Hongji interpreting Yip Man's story, unfolding on the regularly shifting buildings on the stage, we also see Zhang Yashu performing as the Director of Baguazhang Academy filming and directing everything, with occasional effects to make it look as if we are seeing the celluloid version.
Thankfully for a ballet the story was relatively easy to follow, they made excellent use of the revolving stage to add movement, to the buildings with some brilliant slow-motion dancing and held poses by the company, who were performing, either as camera crew or martial arts disciples, Yip Man tries to find a space among the competing schools, somewhere to hang his school's sign.
The way they recreated the narrow streets of Kowloon was very evocative with a good amount of humour, it went into the second half, showing the different martial arts being practised, very fluidly and impressive, finally Yip Man gets his own school but at the cost of having to send his wife back to her home village In China due to illness the parting was very touching.
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While the film crew was struggling to complete the film and spread the word of Yip Man's form of Wing Chun, all of which was set to some very stirring Chinese classical music recorded by International Master Philharmonic Orchestra and composed by TANG Jianping.
Towards the end of the ballet there was a long scene depicting the creation of Gambiered Guangdong Gauze that was fascinating with elements of Rhythmic Gymnastics use of ribbons but with far more dramatic effect apparently symbolizing his yearning for his wife and hometown.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable performance as part of the Shenzen Opera & Dance Theatre companies current world tour of over 200 performances in 38 cities across the globe that I am glad was far more engrossing than the Chinese opera I went to in Beijing in 1990 that sent me to sleep, this performance was far too engaging for that. I thank the program for helping me with this review.
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author: simonovitch
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