Hitting the mystical spot
Shaolin Monks, Mediterranean Conference Centre
The allure of the East has remained strong, as across the water they certainly seem to be on to something. Their cuisine, their lifestyle and - for the most part - their serenity has an "other-worldly" essence to it and we are unabashedly drawn in.
Enter the high-kicking, earth-defying Shaolin Monks and once again, we're hooked. Back for the second time this year, the monks successfully crammed the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, to brimming point with their action-packed, two-hour show. The story is simple, but the spectacle is awesome.
The tale, essentially, tells of one young student's desire to follow in the footsteps of the older monks, all of whom perform death-defying stunts with great ease and masterful skill. His journey towards "master" status is our glimpse into their lives, their customs and talents.
The show has been travelling the world for 13 years, a date which at the time marked the monastery's 1,500th anniversary. For centuries the monks lived in the solitude of the Henan province in China but in 1995, Austrian producer and manager Herbert Fletcher invited the monks to perform on stage and to demonstrate their spiritual capabilities. This show is the outcome, and their break with tradition has seen them perform to nearly three million people since.
As outlandish as their powers seem, the crux of the matter comes down to Qi - the energy which flows through the body and which, thanks to their dedication and lifestyle, the monks have mastered. Of course, it's not easy - their lifestyle is extremely simple and part of the show explains the way they live: small unheated cells, wooden beds, two meals a day (the last before noon), no meat, complete celibacy and a lifetime of dedication, practice and meditation. Whatever it is, it works and the result is a choreographed kung-fu extravaganza.
The information that backs it all up is short and sweet. A voice-over explains how kung fu is the monks' spiritual response to the violence they have endured over the years and details that its development was originally meant to protect them, their country and their livelihood; it remains purely for self-defence. The monks base their movements on nature's fighting animals such as tigers, snakes and leopards, and there are a couple of sticks, chains and whips thrown in for good measure. They somersault, perform flying splits and back-flips, break bricks and metal poles over each other's heads, balance on their heads and hold spears to their necks - it turns the stomach but it makes great, awe-inspiring entertainment.
A notable highlight was when all the monks performed a simultaneous kung-fu-meets-break-dancing rendition where they all bounced on the floor while flinging chains and whips about - their timing was unsurpassed. They smash things on each other too, and while they don't so much as grunt as another brick beats down on them, the whole audience certainly winced back into its seats, oohing and aahing in admiration.
It's got a great "overall" feeling and would be a likely winner with the whole family. The visuals are impressive, the music up-tempo, and the set lovely and evocative of China.
The biggest let-down on the night was the venue's cooling system which couldn't quite cope with the number of people and the month of July at the same time. Sadly, I would certainly think twice before attending another MCC production at the height of summer.
Nevertheless, this show is addictive - one stunt after another draws you in and the atmosphere is eclectic.
It's definitely more about spectacle and less about narrative, which may make it more for the boys than the girls, but it is exciting and there's even a bit of audience participation to get the whole auditorium to its feet.
It's stunning, it's mystical and it's edgy. And, as they always say with these things... don't try it at home!
Enter the high-kicking, earth-defying Shaolin Monks and once again, we're hooked. Back for the second time this year, the monks successfully crammed the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, to brimming point with their action-packed, two-hour show. The story is simple, but the spectacle is awesome.
The tale, essentially, tells of one young student's desire to follow in the footsteps of the older monks, all of whom perform death-defying stunts with great ease and masterful skill. His journey towards "master" status is our glimpse into their lives, their customs and talents.
The show has been travelling the world for 13 years, a date which at the time marked the monastery's 1,500th anniversary. For centuries the monks lived in the solitude of the Henan province in China but in 1995, Austrian producer and manager Herbert Fletcher invited the monks to perform on stage and to demonstrate their spiritual capabilities. This show is the outcome, and their break with tradition has seen them perform to nearly three million people since.
As outlandish as their powers seem, the crux of the matter comes down to Qi - the energy which flows through the body and which, thanks to their dedication and lifestyle, the monks have mastered. Of course, it's not easy - their lifestyle is extremely simple and part of the show explains the way they live: small unheated cells, wooden beds, two meals a day (the last before noon), no meat, complete celibacy and a lifetime of dedication, practice and meditation. Whatever it is, it works and the result is a choreographed kung-fu extravaganza.
The information that backs it all up is short and sweet. A voice-over explains how kung fu is the monks' spiritual response to the violence they have endured over the years and details that its development was originally meant to protect them, their country and their livelihood; it remains purely for self-defence. The monks base their movements on nature's fighting animals such as tigers, snakes and leopards, and there are a couple of sticks, chains and whips thrown in for good measure. They somersault, perform flying splits and back-flips, break bricks and metal poles over each other's heads, balance on their heads and hold spears to their necks - it turns the stomach but it makes great, awe-inspiring entertainment.
A notable highlight was when all the monks performed a simultaneous kung-fu-meets-break-dancing rendition where they all bounced on the floor while flinging chains and whips about - their timing was unsurpassed. They smash things on each other too, and while they don't so much as grunt as another brick beats down on them, the whole audience certainly winced back into its seats, oohing and aahing in admiration.
It's got a great "overall" feeling and would be a likely winner with the whole family. The visuals are impressive, the music up-tempo, and the set lovely and evocative of China.
The biggest let-down on the night was the venue's cooling system which couldn't quite cope with the number of people and the month of July at the same time. Sadly, I would certainly think twice before attending another MCC production at the height of summer.
Nevertheless, this show is addictive - one stunt after another draws you in and the atmosphere is eclectic.
It's definitely more about spectacle and less about narrative, which may make it more for the boys than the girls, but it is exciting and there's even a bit of audience participation to get the whole auditorium to its feet.
It's stunning, it's mystical and it's edgy. And, as they always say with these things... don't try it at home!