Presented by Adelaide Festival Centre
Reviewed 13 September 2013
This year the OzAsia Festival concentrates on Malaysia and has chosen Taiwan’s U-Theatre’s Meeting With Bodhisattva as its official opening production. Given its mantra of calmness, its mixture of Asian art forms and its theatricality, this production is a good choice to start a celebration of cultures.
In Tibetan Buddhism, Bodhisattva is the God of Wisdom and teaches us that one must be calm and rational when facing challenges and the unknown. It is a lesson well worth learning and heeding.
It is quite amazing, despite the combination of drumming, banging gongs and the use of martial arts, how calming this production is (albeit a little too relaxing at times). The focus, concentration, precision and sheer discipline of each member of the sixteen member cast is incredible, extremely admirable and a true example of the Buddhist mantra. The finale shows perfectly how one can become so immersed in one’s performance that it is simply spellbinding for an audience.
For Westerners, the story is not that easy to follow, but the sheer beauty and perfect fluidity of the performances is what stays with one well after the show finishes.
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre 58 Grote Street, Adelaide
Season: 13-14 September 2013
Duration: 1 hour 15 mins (no interval)
Tickets: $25.00 – $137.00
Bookings: Book at BASS
More News
