Family Shows to Warm Up This Winter
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
As the year is nearing its end, various kinds of performances are awaiting theatergoers. Two major performances with high-quality theatrical artistry suitable for all ages are slated for this month.
``The Best of Image'' by the Image Theater, integrating modern dance and mime with black light theater effects, will visit Korea from Dec. 22 to Jan. 13 at Daehangno and Mokdong in Seoul and Goyang in Gyeonggi Province.
Also, bubble artist Fan Yang's ``White Bubble Show'' will be staged at Dome Art Hall in Children's Grand Park from Dec. 22 to Jan. 27.
The Best of Image
The stage is constantly dark with no lighting anywhere. But nimble movements that turn into glowing shapes gradually captivate the audience.
The world-renowned Black Light Theater by the Image Theater of the Czech Republic will come to Korea with ``Best of Image.''
The troupe blends black theater, mime and modern dance based on the distinguished Czech tradition in this genre.
The Black Light Theater is a theatrical performance style characterized by the use of black box theater augmented by black light illusion, in which the use of black curtains, a darkened stage, and ``black lighting'' (UV light), paired with fluorescent costumes creates intricate visual illusions.
The troupe, arguably one of the top-rated theatrical troupes in Black Theater performances, attended the Uijeongbu Music & Theater Festival in 2003 and 2004. This is their third visit to Korea.
The repertoire, which is suited for family audiences, is the newest version since the genre first premiered in 1997.
The latest version is a compilation of the ``Best of Image,'' which was much acclaimed on many European and Asian stages.
At times, flowers of various kinds and colors emerge and disappear in the darkness. Then at other times, mysterious living creatures from the external world float up in the air and vanish.
The expressive artistry and acrobatics by the top ballerinas and dancers from Europe intertwine with fascinating black theater techniques to successfully produce fairytale-like images and illusionary graphic works. The outcome is a largely European performance, laden with humor and fantasy-like elements.
For the Korean tour, top-notch performers such as a former Czech Olympic gymnast, and a gold medallist in a gymnastics world championships, guest dancers actively appearing in famous operas including ``La Traviata'' and ``Carmen,'' and a musical actor have joined the cast.
``The Best of Image'' will begin the Korean tour at Broadhall in Mok-dong on Dec.22-31, with following performances to be held at Byeolmorae Theater of Eoullim Nuri in Goyang on Jan.1-6 and at the Performance Art Center of Dongduk Women's University at Daehangno on Jan.8-13.
They have a limited package that offers a 40-percent discount to a group of more than 6 people.
All seats cost 40,000 won. For more details, call (02) 517-0394.
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White bubble show
The Bubble Show will come back to the Korean stage again after the successful performances on off-Broadway stages for six months. The show drew more than 53,000 viewers in the United States.
This is the seventh performance in Korea. This production is jointly produced by Fan Yang, a Canadian bubble artist, and Korean performance planning company, Neodus.
The upcoming performance is the final version of the Bubble Show, which was modified and upgraded over the past years targeting the global market.
The show presents the story of a bubble artist longing for the soap bubble during his younger days.
The show will present a ``Cloud Ring,'' in which bubbles are given to the audience, especially couples, on a mist ring. Also, bubbles and artificial snow will be presented to the audience with large sized snowballs.
But among others, special colorful bubbles are the cream of the crop. Without using the lights, the dyes are placed in the soap liquid to radiate even more mysterious light.
The scene of an enormous bubble, displayed with the message of the ``Dream Comes True,'' as well as filling up the audience's seats with the bubbles brings a sense of fullness.
There will be a special bubble proposal time for couples to be presented on Christmas Eve, New Years Eve, and every Saturday for a memorable occasion.
The Bubble Show also will invite some 5,000 underprivileged children.
Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3436-9319.