**********************************************************
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and produced by Theatre Ronin, "Searching for Da Vinci" - an inspirational play blending elements of Da Vinci's life and art - will be staged next month.
"Searching for Da Vinci" is a story that involves five "urban weirdos" - there's a young woman who has no eyebrows and doesn't smile; an actor and part-time salesman who has more pectoral muscles than acting acumen; a director whose head is in the clouds and whose body is trapped by a strange ailment; an art teacher who will stay forever young as long as he is within the confines of his studio; and a neurologist who does not like to go home but loves to prune "bonsai" plants. They are all trapped within their respective nebulous states. Then, in a 1:2 window, they see a huge lightbox which shows Da Vinci, dubbed the "greatest genius in the history of mankind". With his left hand raised and pointing to the sky, Da Vinci smiles the famous "Mona Lisa smile" and tells them, "The nebulous state is the best state. It drives us to invent and to create. I used to be like you guys are now! Ciao!" Thus begins the "road to re-birth" for these five urbanites as they follow the life and art of Da Vinci.
Through their various crazy encounters the characters evolve, via the sappiest lovelorn gazes, the most wistful tales, the most shocking connections, finally reaching the ultimate wordless enlightenment. They form one tableau of high romanticism after another. As a collage, they present the possible creative conceits of "Da Vinci the Renaissance Man". And by contrast, they reveal a side of the modern urbanite that is lacking - or that should have been there.
The creative team comprises playright, co-director and set designer Tam Hung-man, producer Lam Pik-chi and a cast including Tang Chi-kin, Cheng Ka-chun, Yuen Wai-ying, Leung Ho-pong, Leung Tsz-fung and Li Wing-lui.
"Searching for Da Vinci" by Theatre Ronin will be staged at 8pm, February 23 to 25 (Thursday to Saturday); and 3pm, February 25 and 26 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Multi-Media Theatre, HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity. Tickets priced at $160 and $110 are now available at all URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. (Limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis.) Please refer to programme leaflet for detail of group booking discount.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325 (LCSD)/7101 2098 (Theatre Ronin) or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/theatre/00000368.html. For ticketing enquiries, please call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Thursday, January 12, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:43
NNNN
