A LESSON in evolution billed as entertainment during the school summer holidays? Surely the Urban Council can't be serious? It certainly is. What's more the City Hall Theatre was filled to capacity on Friday night, when France's acclaimed Theatre Fantastique presented Matrix, a spectacular hi-tech show which uses mime, puppetry, dance and music, plus electro-luminescent lamps and fibre optics to create its eye-popping version of how life begins and evolves - often in a way Charles Darwin never dreamed of.
It was the opening event in Urbco's 17-day International Arts Carnival and although Theatre Fantastique has finished its run of three shows, there are seven others to choose from.
Three of them are also from overseas. From Friday to Sunday at the City Hall Theatre, Scotland's International Purves Puppets will present Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp, featuring all the tale's favourite characters plus a trio of mischievous mice.
You love ballet? Shadow puppets? You can see them combined to mesmerising effect in a double bill from the US company, Underderground Railway Theatre, which performs The Firebird and Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, set to the respective scores of Igor Stravinsky and Richard Strauss, and being presented at the Cultural Centre's Studio Theatre from July 29-31.
The Studio Theatre is also the venue for top US mime artist Gregg Goldston, who will be giving three shows this weekend. ''He is the discus-thrower, the javelin master, the rock'n'roller, the heartache lover, the umbrella man whom an invisible typhoon rockets into the air,'' says Urbco of this master of the silent art. ''He has every position covered with biting humour.'' Keeping up the home front are five offerings, starting with the Harry Goh Goh One Man Band (Cultural Centre Studio Theatre, July 21-23). For Summer 94, Hong Kong's favourite Pied Piper has prepared a whole new bag of tricks ranging from singing puppets to a karaoke contest.
Ghosts galore are promised by Chung Ying Theatre, whose Open Sesame! (in Cantonese) is sure to raise goose-bumps and laughter at the City Hall Theatre, July 28-31. Heroine of the spooky tale designed for six-to 12-year-olds, is Little Ah-fa who one day discovers a dusty tome in her grandfather's library and finds herself drawn into an amazing adventure.
More excitement will come from High Noon, presenting Ten Superboys at the City Hall Concert Hall on July 30 and 31.
