The Review - THEATRE by DAMIAN O'LOUGHLIN Published: 6 November 2009
Jump - Peacock Theatre
Jumping for joy at crazy Korean dance comedy
JUMP Peacock Theatre
YOU could say the West End is starved of slapstick martial arts blockbusters.
You can’t move for formulaic musicals, classic revivals or the odd offensive puppet show, but when it comes to high-kicking family fun, there’s a bit of a
dearth.
Enter Jump. Returning to the Peacock for a third run, this show is like no other, combining Tae-kwon-do, high-flying acrobatics and crazy Korean humour to
produce one of the most genuinely fun shows you will see.
It’s essentially a combat-based sitcom following a dysfunctional family, throwing in dazzling weapon displays and awesome technical ability. If you’ve ever seen the film Kung-Fu Hustle then you’ll know what to expect. It is hilarious; the mother and father argue and the two younger characters embark innocently on the road to love, impaired slightly by the lad’s tendency to kick everyone’s backside when his glasses fall off.
And no family would be complete without the drunken uncle. This was the highlight as we got to see a turbo version of the drunken master-style, which was bought to western screens by Jackie Chan in the 1970s and is one of the hardest fighting techniques to perfect. But you don’t have to be a martial arts geek to love this show as the mix of Olympic-standard gymnastics and laugh-your-head-off slapstick make Jump a
perfectly formed crowd-pleaser. Until November 21
0844 412 4322