(written by Cait)
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to arrange my purse so they can’t see the bottles.” I had three airplane size bottles of red wine in my purse preparing to sneak into the play. We were about to walk into The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, put on by the Hong Kong Performing Arts Academy. As kids, Brad and I both loved the BBC TV movie version as well as the book. I’ve reread all of the Narnia books within the past few years and still enjoy them. We decided to see this play as our Christmas-y thing to do this season.
We walked into the theater and were pleasantly surprised at how small and intimate it was. Stadium seating took up the main area with a small row of seats on the side/balcony area. Our seats were top and center. We sat down and looked around, happy with our seats and excited for the play to start.
Brad flipped through the program and asked me, “Is this an all children’s play?”
I was the one who found the play and booked the tickets, so I replied, “hmm…possibly.” Then I looked through the program, “Yep. I knew there were kids involved and thought that this ‘academy’ put it on or provided the actors for the kids’ parts, but didn’t realize it was ALL kids.” We took another scan around the theater and both quickly realized the same thing. “I think we’re the only people here without kids,” I whispered to Brad. “No…” he said, unconvincingly. We definitely were-and laughed about it. “If anyone asks, we know some kids in the play,” I suggested. Soon, the lights dimmed and the play began.
I handed Brad a bottle of wine and took one out for myself. We cracked them open under disguise of the loud music. I looked to the usher on my left, then to the usher at my right-the coast was clear! I took a sip of wine. Stage lights flashed on and I put my mini bottle down. If I took a drink now, anyone would be able to see me (food and drinks were not allowed in the theater-clearly posted everywhere). Brad wasn’t trying to be as incognito as I was about drinking the wine and I whispered to him, “It looks like we’re drinking out of a flask or something! How are you going to feel when we get kicked out of an all children’s play for drinking wine?” The thought was hilarious and we couldn’t help but laugh (quietly of course, we’re not rude!).
While surprised at the fact that the cast was all children (and teens), the play did not disappoint. In fact, we were very impressed with the production. The props, costumes, special effects and the acting were creative and of high quality. The interpretation of the story was very clever and imaginative: actors used the audience seating as part of the set and ran through the rows, actors dressed as evil/good changed props in front of the curtain, and the best costume was Aslan.
Aslan was played by two actors; a teenage boy held a large mask of a lion head in front of him hiding his own face, while a teenage girl stood visibly behind him. Their walking was coordinated and when he talked (with a microphone) she made the facial expressions, while holding her hands out in front of her to look like the lion’s back. They wore matching costumes of gold and she looked like a lion with bronze colored skin and brown hair like a lion’s mane.
Intermission was very short and most of it was spent in line for the concession stand. Looking around at all the kids we kept saying (Brad, more than me), “Oh, he’s so cute! Oh they’re so cute!” An adorable toddler waved at us, prompting more
“I’m around this every day at work,” I said, so I’m used to a lot of cuteness. Brad however, isn’t, and we haven’t been around kids much since leaving MN. Did we feel our internal clocks ticking? Maybe, a bit.
Just as we bought our wine (the other stash gone and evidence thrown away in the bathroom), an announcement was made that it was time to return to our seats. An usher approached Brad and I at the little table and reminded us to take our seats. I must have made a face of surprise and disappointment (I just got this glass!), but before I could respond, she looked at our full glasses of wine and gave a sympathy smile. We waited as long as possible to go back in but still had a lot of wine left. There’s nothing I love more than slamming wine (uck!).
The second half of the play was even better than the first, with an impressive battle scene between the White Witch and those on Aslan’s side. The fighting was well coordinated and more aggressive that I would have thought for a children’s production. When it came to the curtain call, we clapped enthusiastically along with the rest of the crowd.
Shortly before getting on the Lamma ferry, we stopped in a convenient store nearby to get a drink for the commute home. Lo and behold, Mr. Beaver from the play was there buying a drink, still in full makeup (how else would we recognize him)! We had previously commented during the play how well we thought Mr. Beaver acted. “It’s Mr. Beaver!” Brad shouts from the other side of the store. I look up from a magazine I was browsing, and we both say, “great job tonight!” Mr. Beaver casually says, “thanks,” then doesn’t take a second glance at us. What? That’s it? Aren’t you surprised to have fans complement you in public, somewhere not even close to the play? He must be jaded from all of his fame already.
That theater hosts a variety of plays and we hope to get back there soon for another performance.