The Dining Room (in Cantonese)
Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre Theatre
A review of an American production of A R Gurney's (Love Letters, Sylvia) The Dining Room called it 'brilliant and funny', but sadly, neither quality was evident in the local version produced by the Hong Kong Movie and TV Theatrical Society.
It was a production let down by a plodding pace, dreary dialogue and affected acting.
The Dining Room is a mosaic of scenes revolving around the bittersweet memories of the almost dead art of grand dining.
The situations, localised for this production, are meant to meld together with actors in following scenes walking in as those in the former make their way out. But instead of seamless integration, it all ran together awkwardly.
This was where having recognisable film and television actors was a liability. With familiar faces playing multiple roles, it took some time to catch on to characters, especially as each was played at the same monotonous rhythm.
