It’s not often a bunch of Buddhist monks inspire the thrills you get from a good old-fashioned martial arts flick, but when it’s the Shaolin Warriors, the thrill is not only visual, but live.
The troupe of 22 monks hail from the Shaolin Temple in China’s Henan Province, and together they kick off "Voices of the Masters," their latest tour through 44 U.S. cities including Honolulu.
There is actually a story of sorts to the production. With a dry-ice-enhanced background of a temple and staircase and a soundtrack of taiko drums and flutes, a young boy in blue seems to be a warrior apprentice who the older monks guide through a series of moves, weaponry and tests of pain resistance. In the end, the boy "graduates" to journey through adventures of his own.
| SHAOLIN WARRIORS
>> Where: Hawaii Theatre, 1130 Bethel St.
>> When: 8 p.m. today; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
>> Cost: $30-$60 ($10 discount for children, students, seniors, military)
>> Info: shaolinwarriorshawaii.com Opens in a new tab, 528-0506
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The term "story" is used loosely. It’s all an excuse to see these orange-garbed monks punch and kick with fast swishes audible throughout the Hawaii Theatre.
The first act of the production seems almost a warm-up of sorts. We get head-flips, feet above heads, and lotus positions that even frogs and pretzels would find uncomfortable. There is also lots and lots of shadow sparring, calling to mind a Cirque du Soleil production with a bit of fist — "Ka Lite," if you will.
Things really pick up in the second half after intermission. A man chops vegetables on his stomach with a real cleaver. Another’s abdominals withstand a pounding from a log battering ram. Two men, with a nailed plank between each, get a board broken over them with a mallet; both get up unscathed.
Most impressive is a warrior who somehow leans with full-body weight on the tip of a spear — with his throat.
The Shaolin break up the stoic mood by herding a bunch of children up on stage from the audience. Are they going to use the kids as target practice or pit them against each other "Battle Royale"/"Hunger Games" style? Fortunately, they just run through a punch-and-kick exercise together. On opening night Thursday, one particularly shy youngster needed constant attention due to lack of form (or coordination since he barely looked 3 years old). The results were adorable.
The audience was relied on twice more during the evening. Two adults were chosen to try to pull a steel bowl from the clutches of a warrior’s abs. Both couldn’t do it. The other pair was set up to spar one another, shadowing two masters. The hesitant duo didn’t provide quite the bloodbath we were hoping for.
Most martial arts enthusiasts should be sufficiently entertained by "Voices of the Masters" for two hours, although those who prefer the grisly action of mixed-martial-arts bouts may crave something a bit harder edged.
Kids and newcomers to the fighting style should be thrilled, and everyone else should be properly entertained by seeing artistic Eastern mystic authenticity come to punching and kicking life.
