(above) Photo credit: Haddangse Company
Review by Jo Tomalin
www.ForAllEvents.com
Photo credit: Haddangse Company
Charming & Magical Visual Storytelling
In this unique and eco-friendly show, the story is acted – and painted right in front of you. “Brush” uses a vibrant bilingual storytelling style in English and Korean – yet it does not need many words to understand it. The five playful and animated actors quickly make a warm rapport with the audience, through movement and drawing, which continues throughout the 55 minute show.
Photo credit: Haddangse Company
Haddangse Company Director Jun Lee took traditional Korean painting and created a modern variation with additional surprises and impressive results. The paintings on stage seem to come to life, sometimes to the surprise of the characters, which builds a compelling complicity with the audience. This is magical stuff!
Photo credit: Haddangse Company
“Brush” by Yoon Jobyung is a tale of a lonely boy called Daesung who wishes he had a brother. While his mother says ‘no’ she sends him to visit his grandmother and his best friend, Dalbong, a cute little pig, played by one of the actors. Still sad, his grandmother has a solution and sends him on a journey through the mountains.
Photo credit: Haddangse Company
These actors create characters and effects to tell the story physically and visually, accompanied by live music. In one scene, they even make a rain storm happen using large drawing paper and movement – so simple yet so effective. In another scene they need a house for the family in the story – so they paint a giant home complete with colored wall paper, it’s so imaginative that it makes you want to join in and play.
Photo credit: Haddangse Company
Experts in movement, the actors use many theatrical techniques in their performance – storytelling, puppetry, music, acrobatics, and weave them all together into a delightfully magical show. “Brush” is very well devised by Lee and the company, comprising several short scenes, which move the story forward – holding the rapt attention of even the smallest children. I went not knowing what to expect and was completely drawn in and enchanted, like everyone in the audience. You will be too.
Location:
C venues – C (Venue 34)
Chambers Street, EH1 1HR
Performances: 12 Noon, August 4-10, 12-24.
Box office: 0845 260 1234
- Tickets and More Info: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/brush
Jo Tomalin, Ph.D. reviews Dance, Theatre & Physical Theatre Performances
More Reviews by Jo Tomalin
TWITTER @JoTomalin
www.forallevents.com Arts & Travel Reviews
Jo Tomalin studied with Jacques Lecoq in Paris. She completed the two year professional course at Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq, Paris, France, where she also completed the Laboratoire du Mouvement (LEM) scenography, mask and movement course.
Originally from England, Jo is currently based in San Francisco, where she reviews Theatre & Dance for www.ForAllEvents.com & www.FringeReview.co.uk. She is a Professor in the School of Theatre & Dance at San Francisco State University where she teaches performance subjects and directs MainStage plays. She also works in the performing arts field as a freelance movement & voice specialist, director + actor. Jo’s play “Jessica” which she also directed was produced at the Fringe of Marin – a One Act New Play Festival in Northern California.
Jo Tomalin graduated with a degree from London University’s Laban Centre Teaching Credential program in Modern Dance, Art of Movement & Choreography; studied Classical Acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London; completed a teacher’s diploma (ATCL) in Voice and Acting from Trinity College of Dramatic Art, London; and studied classical ballet for 12 years.
Jo also holds a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Instructional Design for Online Learning from Capella University, MN, and a Master of Science degree in Educational Technology from Boise State University in the USA.
