THEATRE REVIEWS

A band of players arrive to tell their story within a story. The cymbals clash, the sticks hit bamboo as the atmosphere is set against linen hanging from lines strung across the stage. Mandarin is spoken, with English interpretation in competition, making it hard at times to hear the words necessary to follow the story. We witness actors trying to tell their story, flavoured from many countries from ancient times, Chinese, Greek and Elizabethan England woven into a Chinese story. It has an English influence with the writing of Charles Way and the direction of Gail McIntyre, but the music of Richard Taylor performed on Chinese instruments gave us the authentic feel of Chinese opera.

The Dutiful Daughter has the feeling of a very simple folk tale written for children, but which a wider audience may enjoy. This audience had its attention grabbed from the beginning and sat in silence until the lights went up when they showed their appreciation. They were acknowledging the work of the narrator Daniel Crute and actors Nicholas Camm, Gary Simpson, Huang Liangyu, Gong Wei and Ella Vale, who played all the characters needed to bring this back to back story to life. Told many times before in many languages this Chinese version told of shipwreck, banishment and rediscovery.

It was an experience to have this play presented by West Yorkshire Playhouse whose Press Office failed to send photographs needed to give the flavour of the staged events. However, this audience gave the actors a well deserved ovation when they took their curtain calls, which is an invitation for others to witness something different. © BA

“The Dutiful Daughter” is in Leeds on the 7th June until the 11th June, 2005 then continues touring. Council car parking charge £1 from 5.30pm.