Thoughts on Hong Kong 5

Caligula

I was excited to see this play, especially a Cantonese rendition of it. Knowing the story of Caligula beforehand was a definite benefit. I know that several people in our group were in the dark about who Caligula was, so they were probably taken back by some of the things that took place on stage. Personally, I thought it was a very good adaptation and that the actors, especially the actor playing Caligula, did an excellent job! I followed the subtitles, but towards the end I really didn't need them because I felt he did such a good job of reaching out to the audience. He was able to act insane without overacting, monstrous while still having a childlike innocence about him. Even though Caligula was demented, cruel and one sick little puppy, you kind of felt sorry for him in his impossible quest to bring down the moon and become a god. The only part of the play that I felt could be improved was the ending. I didn't feel that his death was dramatic or tragic enough. His ending line, I think it was "Caligula will never die!" seemed a little flat, compared to the way in which he died (multiple stabbings...quite dramatic!), and all that happened up to that point. I thought there would have been an ending soliloquy that at least made one final mention of the elusive moon, since that theme was so strong through the rest of the play. I thought he would have at least reached out as if to grab it from the sky as he died on stage. That gesture alone would have been enough to tie the theme back into the ending.