Pine Tree Under the Moon

Pine Tree Under the Moon

Windmill Grass Theatre

Hong Kong City Hall Theatre

Reviewed: January 5

Written by Wong Kwok-kui and directed by Chan Chu-hei, Pine Tree Under the Moon is an attempt to combine Japanese Noh theatre with Chinese operatic traditions and aesthetics. The work, first staged by Windmill Grass Theatre at the Macau Fringe Festival in 2003, is part of this year's Chinese Drama Festival.

The piece has all the basic elements that define a Noh play: it's a ghost story about an encounter between a travelling monk and spirits. On top of percussion music and the use of masks, the production also features Chinese operatic-style singing and movement combined with poetry.