Detention: 4 star review by Mary Chapman

Tang-Shu Wing Theatre Studio get the audience on their side before they enter the auditorium, with many a joke bouncing around between adults navigating the corridors of Summerhall to queue for detention. With this high-powered physical comedy, the laughter is sustained through acrobatic clowning in this classroom romp.

The blackboard reads ‘Be a good student copy 1000 times’, but the rest is non-verbal as three boys compete for the affections of a pretty classmate with increasing desperation in a super heightened version of boys play fighting. Rock, paper, scissors becomes a dance-off with back flips and cartwheels, not without the odd innuendo slipped in amongst the child's play and with a quick round of who's got the biggest Toblerone.

The piece works really well in the space, allowing for a sudden and surprising coup de theatre where the teacher is acrobatically swinging from the ceiling at dangerous heights like a skinny Miss Trunchbull.It makes your stomach join in with the somersaults.

It is a mad, but entertaining and energetic display of a multitude of talents, especially strong at its most daring feats. The ending was ruined slightly when, having been plucking drum-able objects from around the stage and using desks as instruments like a Chinese version of Stomp, they get actual drums. Nevertheless, it is a dramatic finale giving a flavour of traditional Chinese drumming.

Reviews by Mary Chapman

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★★★

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★★★

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★★

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★★★★

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A Hong Kong non-verbal comedy combining acrobatics, clowning and percussion, shows three naughty school boys chasing a beautiful female classmate around in detention. Director Tang Shu-wing leads a brilliant cast helmed by the Champion of World Women Model Physique.