Dance Review
Ye Gam Productions Jump!
Peacock Theatre
15 April – 10 May 2008
A review by Allan Taylor for EXTRA! EXTRA!
Somewhere between Tae-kwon-do, (a Korean martial art and combat sport) choreography and comedy lies the intriguing piece Jump by Ye Gam. Centred around a family of acrobatic martial artists (Grandfather, Mum, Dad, Drunken Uncle, Daughter and Son in Law), they display their martial arts skills while dealing with the various capers of family life, and bring the audience along with them on their way.
The premise is extremely simple; take a pinch of Jackie Chan and mix in some slapstick japes, and there we have Jump. A live action martial arts movie with some slowed down scenes a la Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to give us a hint of what we missed when we blinked. Ye Gam have over 3000 performers worldwide and have given over 700 performances specialising in acrobatic martial arts skills performed with high artistry. This production really shows how good choreography and excellent direction (courtesy of directors Jun-Sang Lee, Yun-Joong Kim and Oak-Soo Chung) can cross so many boundaries, including language, and the simplicity and spectacle combined make this a very worthy show indeed. Playing heavily on stock characters, like the sexualised mother (Sun Mi Kang) or the sassy and sweet daughter (Bo-Leum Whi), Jump makes great use of hilarious situations, with the first half setting up the characters, and the second seeing some bungling burglars in a war of wills against the family. Put them together and we have some simple, uncomplicated fun with genuine acrobatic feats, romantic mishaps and drunken japes. Watch out for the hilarious son-in-law (Woo-Jin Byeon) who turns from mild mannered lover to a (as the program puts it) “Sexy Hulk” when he whips off his glasses. Set in a typical Korean family lounge complete with paper doors and pillars, the action revolves around how their home often becomes a battleground to show off their stunts to each other. Sometimes set to simple moments of the punch and kick dubs found in a 70s fight film, and sometimes spectacular rounds of routines to driving, anthemic guitars, the music is designed to get you raring to go and rooting for the next stunt. Be prepared to clap your hands red raw towards the end as the stunts get bigger and better. The show also incorporates audience participation in a very strong and literal sense. At least two members of the audience were unsuspectingly plucked at random, and sent up onto the stage to test their martial arts skills against the actors. Gladly, they took it in good humour and the actors improvisational skills were great to watch. You kind of felt like it was a guilty pleasure; a pantomime that grown ups were allowed to take part in.
Tue - Sat at 7.30pm Tickets £10 - £34 Under 16s: Half price tickets on all performances (max 2 per 1 adult) For more info, contact 0844 4124300 or go to
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