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Theatre listings >
This play premiered at the Young Vic, London, England in November 2001. Playwright - David Teevan. Directors - Janet Smith (Scottish Dance Theatre, Dundee) and Dominic Hill (Dundee Rep Ensemble). Designer - Ben Stones. Original Music - Christopher Benstead. Lighting Designer - Malcolm Rippeth. Companies - Scottish Dance Theatre and Dundee Rep Ensemble. Cast - here . 2006 Tour Dates and Times - here . Seen to review at Dundee Rep Theatre, South Tay Street on 10 May 2006. Run Time - 2 hrs 20 minutes with one interval. Reviewer - Thelma Good. Swings, bounces and soars.
It takes us into the world of mythical China where the Monkey King troublesome past results in him accompanying the Buddhist monk Tripitaka. He, played by Ionia Ni Chroinin or Ruth Janssen, is an interesting pure-minded contrast to Monkey, and to his other companions, Pigsy, the pig monster and Sandy, the river monster. The four of them have many adventures, very excitingly enacted in this production, as the monk goes to India to find ancient religious scrolls. Every role is double cast, on the first night dancer Anthony Missen as the Monkey King sent to find enlightenment engaged the audience with the charm of a skilled actor. Monkey's a mischievous spoiling for a fight individual, his scrapes and encounters have him and his opponents flying round the stage. It's a visually striking show with the choreographed fights' look of filmed kung-fu with sometimes held poses or slow-mo movement, and Ben Stones's costumes include oriental elaborate gowns and uniforms. With Colin Teevan's skillful script the companies creates a gutsy show spiked with humour, some visual some from the text, it appeals to young and old, male and female. Christopher Benstead's specially composed music is played live with the renowned Steve Kettley on sax and flute and Scottish Ballet's Ian Coulter on percussion. Benstead adds to the epic, far eastern feel of the production. Both Dundee Rep Ensemble's and Scottish Dance Theatre's strengths, complimentary and shared, are brought to the fore. This first co-production also reveals they should join forces again soon in the building they share. Have no doubt, this is a production to entertain and excite an Emperor and all people. © Thelma Good 10 May 2006 - Published on EdinburghGuide.com
Other parts performed by Toby Fitzgibbons, Ann Louise Ross, James Macgillivary, Irene Macdougall, John Buick, Emily Winter, Gemma Nixon, Baptiste Bourgougnon, Ionia Ni Chroinin, Ruth Janssen, Riccardo Meneghini, Keith Fleming, Paul Boyd, Victoria Roberts, Holly Warren and Phillipa White. Musicians - Musical Director/Keyboard/percussion - Christopher Benstead, Saxophone/Flute - Steve Lettley and Percussion - Ian Coulter. 2006 Tour Details of Scottish Dance Theatre's and Dundee Rep Ensemble's production of Monkey. Tour begins Previews: 8 & 9 May at 7.30pm Dundee Rep Theatre 01382 223530. 10 - 20 May at 7.30pm not Suns Mats 13 May at 2.30pm & 17 May at 2pm Dundee Rep Theatre 01382 223530. 24 - 26 May at 7pm Mat 27 at 2pm Edinburgh Children's International Theatre Festival at Royal Lyceum Theatre 0131 228 1404. 31 May - 3 June at 7.30pm Mats 1 June at 2pm & 3 June at 2.30pm Aberdeen His Majesty's Theatre 01224 641 122. 7 - 10 June at 7.30pm Mats 8 & 10 June at 1.30pm Glasgow Tramway 0845 330 3501. Tour ends. Theatre Editor, Thelma Good's e-mail is thelma@edinburghguide.com Although every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in these pages, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. Theatre listings >
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Monkey - Dundee
Rep Ensemble & Scottish Dance Theatre Production.
Monkey - Dundee Rep Ensemble & Scottish Dance Theatre Production.