Terracotta Warriors

Reviewed by Holly Bartges

The time is short. The run unfortunately closes July 18. Would that this magnificent production be extended. Ignore any controversy that may seep through the cracks. Beg, borrow, steal, or stand in line, if need be. This production should not be missed under any circumstances.

A scene from Terracotta Warriors

Conceived, written, and directed by Denver’s own Dr. Dennis Law, Terracotta Warriors gives a slice of Chinese history with 90 outstanding performers skilled as dancers, singers, martial artists and acrobats.

Classified as an action musical, it uses the arts to tell the story. It doesn’t need words and it doesn’t need translation. The action clearly speaks for itself.

Telling the story of China’s first Emperor, Quishihijang and the 8,000 life-sized warrior statues buried with him in his tomb, the action musical through several short scenes and nine acts, depicts his rise to the throne, his diabolical nature and intolerance of threats to the throne, and his astonishing foresight. In a spaghetti Western, this Emperor would wear a half black and half white hat. Terrorizing his subjects with menacing authority, power and sword, he started construction on the Great Wall. He is responsible for two of the Wonders of the World: the Great Wall and the 8,000 statues discovered in his tomb which will be on display when Law tours his astonishing production in Asia following the Denver run.

With a recorded 100-member orchestra, the music employs surround sound, complemented with live music provided by Percussionist Wang Ju, and Pipa player Cai Jin. The Pipa instrument, very much like an oversized guitar, is an old traditional Chinese instrument. The result: loud, moving, thrilling, and expressive.

The program contains a detailed synopsis of the story, and a play-by-play description of each scene. However, much of the action rolls out the story.

Soprano Chen Xiaoduo does sing her Muse role in Chinese. With her beautiful voice and demeanor, the translation in the program is helpful but almost not necessary. Through her body language, she conveys her message.

The set, designed by Tu Hu Hua, bestows splendid paintings of China’s landscape, the Palace, and the Great Wall. The paintings extend into three-dimensional set pieces, and are so well done one almost wants to say I want a copy.

Authentic First Century 300 costumes designed by Mo Xiao Min are drop-dead gorgeous. The hair and wigs designed by Wang GUI Rong deserve a second look. In that period no one cut hair. Men and women rolled their hair into buns. The action musical required special consideration for the wigs to be worn during the fast and furious dancing, simulated fighting, and acrobatic stunts.

The combination of dance, martial artists and acrobats, is a brilliant inspired mode, and a little astonishing someone hasn’t thought about this before. Choreography was contrived by Zhang Jian Ming, and action choreography designed by Fan Dong Yu and Yan Jie. The result is breath taking, eye-popping, mouth open to the floor exhilarating.

Although Law may not have a great deal of directing under his belt, he does provide a visual feast for the eyes. The one thing I would have preferred to see at the very end, when the terracotta warriors march forward, is that they could have, should have marched in precision. Although precision throughout isn’t an obvious concern for Law or his choreographers, the lack of stood in the way of some audience members appreciating the entire production.

Not only is Terracotta Warriors astonishing in performance, awesome in its conception, but also educational in its story with the Great Wall, history, as well as a lesson that something new under the sun can happen. Dance and music are truly international languages, and English translations aren’t necessary to tell a story. In our shrinking world, there’s a gigantic lesson to grasp.

Hopefully Law will return his brainchild to the states after his Asian tour, and hopefully return to Denver for a longer run.