Review: ‘The White Snake’

I walked into the Studio Theatre at the Arts Centre to watch the The White Snake with no expectations, never having watched a student production at Warwick before. The short summaries I had read of the plot seemed absurdly fantastical and I could not even begin to imagine in what form it’d be produced. I was greeted by gentle music that wafted through the small cosy theatre, played by the Chinese Orchestra. The walls of the stage were beautifully decorated in Chinese paintings of monasteries, cherry blossom trees and animals, typical of any stage production from the East. My first impression of the show was good, but not yet spectacular.

What ensued was a show unlike anything I’ve seen before. The beautiful blend of Eastern culture and Western theatre was a seamless combination that set my senses tingling. This fine balance that WUDS and Codpiece maintained during the show erased all apprehensions I’d had beforehand.

The beautiful blend of Eastern culture and Western theatre was a seamless combination that set my senses tingling.

The play, a retelling of a popular Chinese fable, follows the mystical life of the The White Snake and is a powerful love story set in Hangzhou between a human, Xu Xian, and an immortal snake spirit called the White Snake or Lady Bai. The two own a pharmacy and are content with their happy marriage and flourishing business. The plot contains ample action in the form of Fa Hai, a Buddhist monk who opposes this ‘immoral’ union and would do anything to end it.

Selcan Findikoglu’s portrayal of the white snake was marvellous, both majestic and gentle at the same time. Coupled with the exquisite makeup that left no confusion as to her mystical nature, she dominated the stage every time, portraying exactly what her character entails. Sam Kirby’s blubbering idiot act as the husband and Becky Bryant as Greenie, Lady Bai’s young, passionate companion set the perfectly light tone to what could have been a very serious play. Astijus Taujanskas’ Buddhist monk, though lackluster in the beginning, became more fearsome as the pace of the play picked up.

The hilarious interjections explaining Chinese traditions and the multiple narrators that wander in during scenes were a welcome diversion

However, the most unexpected part of the play was the perfectly blended humour that the show produced. I cannot help but commend the scriptwriter on the marvellously timed humour that seemed to echo the confusion a Western audience might have while watching a Chinese fable. The hilarious interjections explaining Chinese traditions and the multiple narrators that wander in during scenes were a welcome diversion to a tale that, if told plainly, would have been dreary. The use of English lyrics in Chinese rhythm with the orchestra played by Warwick Chinese Orchestra Society set the perfect tone to the spectacle that the show produced.

One of the highlights of the show was the beautiful dances and the epic battle scene between the water spirits and air spirits. Set with the right background score and ferocious expression, the choreography of the scene was so brilliant that the audience could physically sense the tension between the two parties.

Keeping in mind that it is a student production was a difficult task during the show, especially considering the impeccable flow between scenes, making the best use of props without the typical scramble to change settings.

Though the entirety of the play is set in a very light tone, the sombre ending brings us back to earth as we are asked to confront the valuable lesson that the fable teaches us. This lesson, which could have been lost in gales of laughter, is brought out beautifully in the final lantern scene where the entire cast comes out to deliver their messages to the crowd. There couldn’t have been a better ending to the play than the message that you can never die alone.

WUDS and Codpiece manage to bring a show that teaches us to embrace the diverse cultures we are exposed to and relish in them.

The White Snake is not a play that could have been easy to portray on stage when taking into account the fantastical elements involved in its narrative. However, WUDS and Codpiece manage to bring a show that teaches us to embrace the diverse cultures we are exposed to and relish in them.