Monkey- Journey Into The West- Review
Monkey- Journey Into The West- @ The Palace Theatre (Manchester International Festival)
Monkey is a hugely ambitious production; ideal then, to open a festival. Bought to the stage via the collaborative efforts of Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett and Chen Shi-Zheng, it is a smorgasboard of ideas, all jostling, like excited puppies, for your attention. At times it works, as this musical extravaganza is a visual delight. There is so much to see that your eyes will need some optrex to recover, but the beauty is not always for the ears also. Some of the music has been amplified to such an extent that you are left reelling, as opposed to feeling.
In terms of story, if you are familiar with the cult TV show, Monkey (a low budget martial arts/fantasy kids fave, which I loved!) then there is some consolation as you can follow the story with ease. All your old favourite characters are back along with whacky storylines and visuals. There is plenty for kids or adults with warm memories of the subtitles, martial arts and cotton wool clouds that made the show so memorable. But make sure the kids are about 10 or above, else like many behind me, they will be asking what is going on every five minutes!
Musically, Damon Albarn has created a real mix of genres. At its worst the music is reminscent of Cirque Du Soleil, but then just when you feel it cannot get any more Euro pop, you hear something of real beauty. In the the end, Monkey is about surrendering yourself to the epic quality. The stunning animation will please fans of Gorillaz, as the humour and cheeky style is evident in spades.
As for the cast, many of them have breath taking trickery and stunts to perform. This is where the style slightly jars for me as the show does resemble the Moscow State Circus, interrupted by the new age narrative. But, as I left the theatre, I could not escape from the fact that I had witnessed an eye catching, bewildering spectacle.
The show needs cutting, or at the very least, an interval. But, despite all the flaws, Monkey is a great opener to a brilliant festival. I still have the imagery of underwater sequences planted firmly in my brain. From nightmare to the stuff of a beautiful dreamlike state, this show is unlike anything you have seen before.
You have until Saturday to see Monkey and co. Catch it before it leaves Manchester, but do not be surprised if it opens again in London.