The Chinese acrobatics drama Mulan was warmly welcomed by audiences this week throughout France.

More than 300,000 people watched the large-scale historical acrobatics drama featuring 45 performers in 54 shows as of Tuesday, said Chongqing Art Performance Group Saturday.

Mulan has its roots in a traditional Chinese myth, but if you’re looking to make sense of the narrative, good luck: prior knowledge, I reckon, is a definite plus. A little background may be helpful. Mulan derives from the name and tells the story of a girl named Hua Mulan, who brings honour to her family by becoming a warrior, waging war on ‘baddies’, as you do. Perhaps you’ve seen the Disney feature. If so, it’s probably a good grounding, as this Mulan put me in mind of latter-day Disney (not necessarily the pointy end): as amazing as the gymnastics are and almost no matter the length or intensity of training that must surely be invested, and notwithstanding other strengths mentioned above, the show failed to really connect or communicate any palpable sense of passion.Each performance lasts 105 minutes, and cheering crowds of more than 6,000 attended each show.

The soundtrack is dramatic to an almost laughable degree (I acknowledge a probable difference in tastes between cultures on this score) and one or two late fades of lights detracted remarkably from the otherwise perfectionistic slickness and rhythm of the show. Inexcusable. In any case, I’m not sure the State Theatre was the right venue. Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t. A more modern premises might’ve offered a bigger, broader, deeper, higher stage, which would’ve afforded more visual impetus, via a more grandiose scale.

"Chongqing's acrobatics show makes us learn more about Chinese culture, and the excellent skills make us fall in love with Chinese culture," a resident of Paris said.

The Chongqing Art Performance Group launched a European tour in December, and France is the first country to receive the performers, and the next stop is Britain.

The art group belongs to Chongqing Art Performance Group, which is a state-owned cultural enterprise with over 400 staff members. It was founded in April 2010 by the Chongqing municipal government.

Editor: Liu Xiongfei