TAN HUI-LEI IS dangling about three metres above the stage, her eyes shut tight with fear - and that's no act. As Wendy in the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre's production of Peter Pan, Tan is one of several characters who have to soar gracefully through the air during the show's 10-performance run.
Not much more than a week before the show opens, she's testing her wings for the first time at a three-day, intensive 'flying' course.
British director Leon Rubin, who has experience with airborne actors, gently coaxes Tan to relax and lean her body forward to create the illusion of flying. But the actress is hesitant, not quite sure about the two thin supporting wires for her harness.
'It's a matter of trusting the crew and the equipment and throwing away your fear,' Tan says later, visibly more relaxed with her feet on the ground. 'I'm sure I'll get over my nerves.'
By contrast, Tan's co-star Lau Shau-ching, a member of HKRep since 2001, is enjoying the ride. Fresh out of his harness, the windblown actor has a child-like glow - rather apt for someone playing Peter Pan. 'It's great - like a roller coaster,' he says. He even tried a few aerial somersaults, which have since been incorporated into his flying routine.
There are about 20 flying sequences in the show (which opened yesterday), including some complicated ones when Peter fights the pirates. But most are fairly straightforward, says Rubin.
Still, with only three days dedicated to teaching the actors and crew the ropes, time is of the essence. 'It's a slow, laborious, mechanical process of learning how to fly and use the equipment,' Rubin says. 'For the actors, it can be frightening when they're up there supported by very thin wires.'
