It sounds all rather worthy and as dry as toast, but "Pichet Klunchun and myself" is the surprise of the Melbourne International Arts Festival. It is utterly hilarious. I feared this dialogue between Thai classical dancer Klunchun and French modern dance choreographer Jerome Bel would be lost in translation.

But the words of dance and culture collide in a way that is as unselfconsciously funny as it is educational. Instead of a clunky evening of Thai-French dance fusion, these collaborators have cooked up soemthing far more spicy and entertaining. It is, as Klunchun says, a walk through two different art galleries, one classical and one modern. Bel is like a French Woody Allen as he gently, humorously interogates Klunchun about khon, the classical mask dance which the Thai studied with one of the nation’s greatest masters from age 16.

Klunchun’s wit shines as he explains khon’s principles. […] Bel rings true as he strips bare the pretensions of modern and classical dance. […] At show’s end, the playhouse was a sea of smiles.

Jane Howard 29.10.2006