Went to see Monkey at Chester’s Gateway theatre on Saturday. It was the matinee performance and was fairly heaving with kids. It was a fairly cheap looking production, having only one set and limited effects; but there were a few nice touches that made it worth the trip: Monkey spoke like in the TV series - though his lips unfortunately synced with the sound, he performed the entire role speaking as if he had been dubbed by a japanese voice actor. He almost pulled it off. There were plenty of fight scenes involving some real, if watered-down, kung fu and some quality acrobatics. The Jade Emperor of the Western Heaven was funny as was the old man, played by the same actor. Ethnologically a little confusing (well, the original was a japanese show about a chinese legend set in india) it had an African Buddha and the music freely mixed African, Western and Eastern influences. Highlights include the giggles of the kids as monkey vanquished a demon by farting at him, or rubbed his name out of the Book Of Death by wiping his arse on it. Also, Tripitaka (who was actually a girl, both the acress and the character in this production) failed to interrupt monkey in time and he actually managed to say ‘bollocks’ on stage in front of delighted 6 year olds and appalled parents. Second half a bit on the slow side (it conformed to the common - accidental - formula of first half action, second half plot) but on the whole an entertaining and delightful show.
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