Saturday, June 17, 2006

The miniature battlefields

Simple American has said that he would be keen on catching the Hotel Modern's The Great War if he were to be in Singapore. I have the pleasure of catching it last evening.

The form of this performance is something that I have never experienced before. I read that this performance is an Asian premiere. The programme notes state that the Hotel Modern theatre group invented this theatre form which it describes as "live animation".

It was fascinating to see how the artists of Hotel Modern used tools and props such as mud, beans and plasticine to create miniature battlefields that are intended to convey the cruelties of war. Through the use of cameras, these miniature scenes get projected and magnified onto the large scene placed at the front of theatre. By then, the small-sized battlefields seem like real-life scenes.

War, it seems an absurb game. I would rather people don't find themselves playing in it. Are there better ways to resolve differences and conflicts than through war?

I shall not attempt to write more, if you are keen to find out more, check this URL: http://www.singaporeartsfest.com/Theatre/greatWar.htm. A better choice would be to catch this performance by today.

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