balancing act
It was apt to go and see dancing lions, Chinese acrobat feats and topless Kung Fu monks right after the New Year's. The stage was decorated in screaming red and gold, the colours we associate with fortune and prosperity. Glittering wands of some sort were also sold to the audience. The young girls sitting beside me each had one, but it was not as if the wands can do magic. However, the performances were indeed magical. The lions (actually two people) stood on balls, and then they balanced perfectly on a seesaw. Another two girls walked along the high wire with umbrellas in their hands, did somersaults and rode on a unicycle at ease. They were just like butterflies. Boy, I don't know if they were scared, but my palms were sweaty just by watching the pair. HY said he noticed that one of them slipped off, but it was definitely a minor error. Other shows to name a few include Wu Shu, which I've pretty much seen them before, juggling jars (a 'smart' lady behind me suggested that they must have been made of plastic) and jumping loops--all pretty amazing. The audience were expected to applaud everytime the acrobat/warrior did 'ta-da', but I only clapped when I thought it was truly good.
The one cavil I have about the state circus is their narrator. His loud, strident voice came through the microphone, repeating the phrases, 'two thousand years', 'amazing' and 'wonderful' again and again. Rather than being a good storyteller, he sounded like a representative earnestly trying to show off (but badly) in front of the West. And don't get me started with that gay, strange-looking monkey. I've never liked Sun Wu Kung and his mischievous deeds; in fact, I dislike all naughty creatures in general, such as Curious George and Dennis the Menace.
