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Two mischievous siblings stumble across a magical bicycle that takes them on an intriguing journey. Inside a weird-looking mansion, where an equally strange author leads a reclusive life, the pair discovers many treasures. As their adventure continues, they encounter an unfortunate girl named Sophia...
The 60-year-old Puppet Theater Hitomi-za last visited Hong Kong in 2001 when it delighted many with its production "GeGeGe No Kitaro". This summer the troupe returns with puppet theatre "the bicycle" which promises to bring more joy to young audiences.
Based on American writer and illustrator Edward Gorey's "The Epiplectic Bicycle" and "The Hapless Child", "the bicycle" creates a whole new world where characters from the two works meet, and conjures up an unusual and wonderfully poetic tale.
The delightful set and beautifully crafted puppetry in the show stick faithfully to the quaint nature of the original illustrations. The use of black and white and deliberate omission of certain chapters, just like ˇ§The Epiplectic Bicycleˇ¨, oblige the audience to imagine what happens and fill in the details of colours, scenes and stories by themselves.
Puppet Theater Hitomi-za was founded in 1948 by a group of youngsters who were fond of drama. It began as a drama theatre and in 1949 became a professional puppetry theatre. The company soon gained popularity and recognition, winning numerous competitions in the 1950s and producing puppet shows on TV and for movies.
Early in the 1960s, Puppet Theater Hitomi-za started adapting classical works such as Shakespeare's "Macbeth", "King Lear", "Romeo and Juliet", "A Midsummer's Night Dream" and presenting other experimental puppet theatre shows. It also adapted Japanese traditional puppet shows. The company's Otome Bunruka won international popularity and has performed in France, Spain and Mexico.
After six decades of remarkable growth and significant achievements, Puppet Theater Hitomi-za now has five sister groups whose performances are seen by 20,000 people every year.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, puppet theatre "the bicycle" is part of this summer's "International Arts Carnival". It will be staged at 7.30pm from July 31 to August 2; 3pm from August 2 to 3; and 11am on August 2 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre.
Tickets priced at $120 and $200 are available at URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Package discounts of up to 15% are available for full-price performing arts programmes/films of the festival.
Programme guides are available at URBTIX outlets and at the website, www.hkiac.gov.hk
For programme enquiries, please call 2370 1044. Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk. Credit card telephone bookings can be made on 2111 5999 and telephone reservations on 2734 9009.
Ends/Saturday, July 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:00
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