REVIEW: Monkey: Journey to the West
- Posted on July 25, 2008 10:57 AM
- 0 comments
Monkey: Journey to the West
The Royal Opera House
24th July 2008
Review by Adam Walker
With echoes of status and grandeur, the Royal Opera House has traditionally only ever appealed to a very niche market. But thanks to a beautiful multi-million pound restoration programme last year and now the arrival of Blur and Gorillaz front man, Damon Albarn’s self-styled ‘pop-opera’ “Monkey: Journey to the West”, the doors have finally opened to a very different kind of audience. And how refreshing that is to see.
Make no mistake, the House is stunning and sets the scene for the anticipation of something very special. Those in their evening gowns and penguin suits mixed more than comfortably with the jeans and trainer brigade, since they were all here to witness and be part of a different kind of opera.
First performed at Manchester’s International Festival last year, and similar to London’s exclusive four night run, the opera is sung entirely in Mandarin with English surtitles. Whilst the plot is incidental, the Monkey travels the world in search of eternal life, this is all about the music and the spectacle. Co-created with Gorillaz artist Jamie Hewlett, his vision is fused throughout the swooping score with dazzling video graphics, costumes, lighting and even a forty-foot Buddha.
Slightly reminiscent of Cirque du Soleil, the forty Chinese acrobats swung, flew, rolled and fought their way across the stage in varying guises – all the time spectacular, if only sometimes a little prolonged. The opening and finale are both truly a sensual delight. But somewhere in the middle it gets a little lost in its own message. At nearly two hours with no interval, there were a few scenes that could have been cut. But this being the only gripe in an otherwise flawless production, makes for essential viewing. Beg, borrow or steal a ticket. There are only four performances left.
Related links:
The Royal Opera House official site.
Monkey: Journey To The West official site.
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