The Comedy of K makes stunning comeback
City Contemporary Dance Company's closing show this year was a welcome revival of celebrated choreographer Helen Lai's 2004 The Comedy of K. The "K" refers to Franz Kafka (1883-1924), the Prague-born Jewish writer whose life and work inspired the piece, which reflects the surrealism and existentialism central to his oeuvre.
Kwai Tsing Theatre, December 7
City Contemporary Dance Company's closing show this year was a welcome revival of celebrated choreographer Helen Lai's 2004 The Comedy of K.
The "K" refers to Franz Kafka (1883-1924), the Prague-born Jewish writer whose life and work inspired the piece, which reflects the surrealism and existentialism central to his oeuvre.
Visually, the work also pays homage to another noted surrealist of the period, Rene Magritte, and to the expressionist movement led by directors like F. W. Murnau and Fritz Lang.
Taurus Wah Man-wai's costumes, Tsang Man-tung's sets and Goh Boon Ann's lighting create a stunning, off-kilter, black-and-white world - Dr Mabuse meets Magritte - where the only colour is an occasional note of red in a bunch of flowers or on a woman's dress.