Soul of Shaolin @ Genting International Showroom
In mid-2017, the Genting International Showroom at Resorts World Genting hosted Soul of Shaolin, a Broadway-style stage production performed by artists trained in Shaolin Kung Fu. It ran from 28 May to 26 June 2017 and was pitched as a family show, mixing martial arts, acrobatics and storytelling into one performance.
The Story
The show follows a baby, Hui Guang, who is separated from his mother during a war. Chased by bandits, she hides him in tall grass before leaping off a cliff to escape. The baby is found and raised by the monks of the Shaolin Temple in Henan, China, and grows up learning kung fu under his teacher Na Luo and the abbot, Miao Xing.
When Hui Guang learns the truth about his past, he becomes angry and starts drinking and picking fights with the other monks. As punishment, the abbot sends him to meditate in Bodhidharma’s cave, where he finally understands that virtue, not fighting, is the real soul of Shaolin.
Later, he crosses paths with his mother again when he and Na Luo rescue her from a group of ruffians. A broken piece of jade he leaves behind leads her back to the temple, and the story ends with mother and son leaving together to start a new life.
Is It Worth Watching?
Beyond the plot, the highlight is the kung fu itself. Shaolin Kung Fu is one of the oldest styles of Chinese martial arts, and seeing the flips, staff work and synchronised routines live on stage is far more impressive than on screen. The simple storyline makes it easy for children to follow, so it suits a family trip to Genting. Shows like this rotate at the resort, so check the Genting International Showroom’s current line-up before you go.