Review-Detention-Tang Shu Wing Studio
11-8-13
By: Meaghan McGurgan
Last night HKELD was invited back to review the re-staging of Detention by Tang Shu Wing Studio. The show is currently on its fourth run in Hong Kong. This is no easy feat and they should be given props for it. They obviously have hit a core with local audience members who love the fast paced fun of the production. A physical theatre piece that centers around 4 naughty students who are stuck in detention with a teacher who has some very serious emotional problems. If you want to see my review from last fall, click here.
I saw Cast C of this production. This cast seemed very young and had great energy. The highlight in this cast seemed to be the performance of the acrobat, Chok Tak Po, Hugh. I say this because his performance was very different than the performer I had seen last fall and he seemed to make the character his own. I appreciated that as a repeat viewer of the show.
The production values in Detention are quite high. It has a fabulous set that is quite accurate to Hong Kong local schools, designed by Yip Cheung Tong Moon and Chan Fei Fei. The lighting is good and the Sound Designer (Chan Wing Kit) has done a great job. The ticket prices are also very fair. Kids and families will love it as any one of any age will find some joy in the production. Older patrons will like the Cantonese Opera elements and younger kiddies will like the comedic foibles. Westerners may have trouble understanding all the jokes inside of Detention but will appreciate the talent of the performers. The blocking and choreography of the production is quite good. Tang Shu Wing and his team make the most of the stage and use all the levels.
Unfortunately, what I didn't like about the show last time still rings true. The storyline is somewhat lacking. They move about from physical bit to physical bit with little to no motivation from a story standpoint. The characters come across as two dimensional stereotypes rather than fully fleshed characters, especially the teacher.
The new and improved ending is full of spectacle but it was very jarring compared to the rest of the story line. The last scene change is very impressive but I wonder what purpose it serves. Is it all flash and no substance? Audience members suffering from light triggered epilepsy or migraines should be warned that the new ending has a lot of fast moving lights in it.
I think if Detention wants to be a permanent show in Hong Kong it's going to have to make a decision about what kind of show it wants to be. Is it going to be a show with no story and all flash, like NYC's Stomp? Or is it going to go with a storyline like Korea's Nanta or Macau's House of Dancing Water? Now, be a good student and run to the box office if you want tickets.
Detention is playing at the Shouson Theatre through August 18th. For more information, click here.
Comments
Michael Cordish
We saw this a week ago at recommendation of a friend. My wife and I were not impressed. It hit home with all the people and kids sitting around us but I didn't laugh at the cheap fart jokes. The teacher character is an offensive stereotype of single chinese female teachers. We don't need our daughters taught that you are sad/mean because your boyfriend won't marry you. Get married and you'll be happy. Very sexist. I was unimpressed with the moral of the story.
11 August 2013Dan
I saw Cast B in this production and can honestly say that I loved this production. It had everything that any theatre goer could want, dance, music, comedy, physical theatre, good use of blocking and set design and very creative use of props.True some of the humour was quite childish at parts but then again it is a family show and the humour had many different levels so that both children and adults could enjoy. The story and characterisation could be more advanced but I feel that overall this was a very fun and entertaining piece of theatre that the whole family can enjoy and most importantly at a very reasonable price! Well done Detention!
16 August 2013MARK
I just saw this play; I had high expectations as I believe Hong Kong theatre needs more HK productions with totally local casts and I was happy to see the Shouson Theatre full of local families coming to the theatre. Sadly however my view of the performance was not one of admiration; I felt like I was watching a rehearsal; if there is no dialogue then the cast have to find another way to connect with the audience; this they failed to do; acrobatics aside, the ability of an actor to capture an audience is imperative if that audience is to share the emotions of the play; I found after 30 minutes the cast were merely repeating themselves and going for cheap laughs; do we really need a smelly fart to make us giggle; the one dimensional aspect of the teacher was acting at its worse; the love trysts that focus around the young girl are of course puppy love exuberance by pubescent sweaty boys; but still the cast failed to capture any emotion; the final wedding scene was clearly an add on as it simply did not match the feel of the production and is completely unnecessary; Detention could be fun, but until the cast learn to achieve an emotional connection to the audience, it will remain for the audience, 90 minutes of detention.
18 August 2013