Reviews: In Search of Hui Sin and Trpceski's Rachmaninov

This new production from contemporary group DanceArt is a collaboration with theatre director Ho Ying-fung which purports to offer a modern take on the ancient Chinese folklore The Legend of the White Snake.

The programme notes say the intent was to explore various questions surrounding the relevance and reimagining of the story in a 21st-century context. It's an interesting idea, but after 90 minutes of slow motion with no discernible plot, little sense of theatre and certainly no dance, the only important question was: "When is this going to end?"

The Legend of the White Snake is a tale of love triumphing against the odds. Two supernatural beings, White Snake and Green Snake, transform themselves into beautiful women to live among humans. White Snake falls in love with a young man called Hui Sin. She becomes his wife until their happiness is destroyed by the monk Fa Hai, who hates White Snake and reveals her true form to her husband. Decades of suffering and struggle follow before the lovers are at last reunited.

DanceArt's piece follows the traditional story, albeit in a rudimentary way. Bizarrely, the only "contemporary" aspect is provided by Man Liu, who is presumably Hui Sin (identified only as "He"), and Gabbie Chan, identified as "She", who have modern clothing and mobile phones. Far from being presented in a contemporary light, White Snake (Yvette Huang) and Green Snake (Su Shu) sport cheongsams and stylised make-up, while Francis Leung as Fa Hai wears a traditional monk's costume.

While Huang, Su and Leung all posture effectively, they never do more, and the other two dancers add little beyond occasionally rolling on the floor or running round the stage.