Review – Dream of the Ghost Story
Fables are an important part of any culture. Wherever you live, storytelling is a ubiquitous practice for passing on common mythology. Much like Grimms fairytales, this ghost story, based on a Qing Dynasty fable, captures the eternal struggle of good versus evil and the notion that love conquers all.
Dream of the Ghost Story adapts the fable into an acrobatic spectacular. Showcasing precisely synchronised mastery of various props and techniques, the Shandong Acrobatic Troupe elevates the fable to the divine.
There are few occasions when you can say that each element of a show so perfectly complemented the other. The music informed the movement, the movement was enhanced by the visual brilliance of the costumes, and the costumes danced across the stunning sets to create a waking dream.
The cast members were dazzling in their ability to be both technically brilliant and powerfully emotive in their performance. This transported the audience right into the tale, transfixing adults and children alike. Kids don’t hide it when something has lost their attention, so this is the perfect litmus test.
Dream of the Ghost Story exemplifies what this festival is all about. If this is an indication of what else we have in store for us through OzAsia, then we are in for one amazing festival.
