The Smoky Mountain Palace Theater celebrated a new beginning Thursday night with the premiere of a show that combines exhibitions of Shaolin Kung Fu with elements of Broadway shows. "Hui Guang" takes its title from the main character, an orphaned child who grows up in a Shaolin temple and learns the ways of the monks and their signature martial arts style. The owners gave a sneak preview Thursday at an event that also marked the official opening of the Smoky Mountain Palace Theater, formerly the Governor's Palace.
"Tonight's show will be very different from any Kung Fu show you've ever seen," producer Yongnian Fang said through an interpreter. "It's a Broadway-style show."
The show features music and dance, but most of all it features displays of prowess by a cast that includes dozens of Shaolin masters.
Some of the cast members have appeared in films like The Matrix and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Wang Sen, who plays Hui Guang as a child, was a hit with the audience along with Zhang Zhigang, who plays Hui Guang's mentor and friend, Naluo.Yu Fei portrays Hui Guang as he trains through his teen years, and Jia Honglei portrays him as an adult, when he struggles to master the moral teachings of Shaolin and discovers he might not be orphaned after all.
The actors don't speak in the show, but a narrator sets up each scene and the characters' gestures and the music makes it clear what's happening.
People leaving Thursday were impressed with the show.
"I think it's wonderful," said Angela Caruthers, of Gatlinburg. "It gave me chills."
"I think it's really something different for the area," added Gretchen Ogle.
"I d hate to see this show leave," said Garrett Ketchum. "It's the best here (in Sevier County) by far."
"Hui Guang" has a limited engagement at the theater; it will be here until Nov. 30. The palace's anchor show, "The Legend of China," already started its run and will continue past that date.
Owner Lizhi Zhao has a similar show at a theater in Branson, Mo., and has taken his show to Broadway, but said he's brought a new act to the Smoky Mountain Palace Theater.
Speaking through an interpreter, he said the show is new but he hopes it gets as good a response as his previous efforts.
He said the beauty of the Smoky Mountains helped him make the decision to start his second American theater here.
"The Smoky Mountains are too beautiful, that's what made we want to come here and open a theater," he said.
Information courtesy of The Mountain Press