(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
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