Shown as part of the 'International Online Theatre Festival' this bizarre but interesting production from The Quirky Moth Theatre Company in Beijing, China was a gratifying watch.
The tale of 'The Clock God From The West' was, as far as I could work out - it was extremely difficult trying to read very poorly translated subtitles at the same time as watching the action - about a lady called Cier and her husband, Changdao. Cier has a magic clock. It is a western style clock but the hands go backwards, and Cier is able to summon the magic spirit that lives within the clock to do what they called 'witchcraft' for her. Cier one day tells her husband and her son, Xioahe, that she can use the clock's spirit to make their family rich. They do not believe this and it makes Xioahe quite upset. He is in love with a girl called Jasmine, who is sadly betrothed to another. There is some confusion here as the customs of ancient Chinese society are unknown to me [the play is set at the time of the Qing Dynasty]. However the upshot is that Cier does indeed summon the Clock God to try to help her son marry the girl he truly loves. Things don't go according to plan however, and as they prepare to perform a play, in order to provide money to stop them from having to sell their house, one of the actors promptly dies. They believe this to be the witchcraft of the clock and so Xioahe destroys the clock, and as soon as he does, his mother Cier completely vanishes never to be seen again. Or at least that was what I waa able to understand from the play from a single viewing.
The stage is quite small and utilises a simple but effective set. A gauze-like curtain to the rear which is used for shadow-acting whilst a semi-circular frame makes the main part of the set... It looks like the outer frame of a wrist watch or indeed, clock, whilst a small grandmother clock takes pride of place centre stage. The cast wear traditional Chinese costumes. Their style of acting is comedic and obvious. It is clearly not Western style acting, unless we were to be overly dramatic and acting in a pantomime. This theatre company though are quite famous in China, and here they are trying to deliberately marry the Western style of theatre with that of the more tradiitonal roots of Chinese theatre. Not being educated in Chinese theatrical styles and techniques, it is extremely difficult for me to be able to comment on their acting, other than to say that to Westerners this style would appear false and monodimensional, and, like I have already said, pantomimic. The lighting and sound effects too are rather basic placing more emnphasis on the actors and forcing them to emphasise gesture in order to convey meaning. It was the dancing that I found the oddest.. the nearest I could liken it to was 'Gangnam Style'. It was neither Chinese nor Western, and neither ancient nor modern, but very energetic.
The production was written by Tiaojiao Liu and was directed by Xuexi Li. The whole came across as a little experimental in nature, but never having watched traditional Chinese theatre, then I find it impossible to draw comparison or criticism. I have experience only of Western Theatre and Japanese Theatre (both Noh and Kabuki). And although there were similarities to the Japanese theatre, again, it would be most unwise of me to try and cross reference. It was, though, a very entertaining watch, and I am glad I stuck with it.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 2/5/20
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