I keep running into the same problem: Creating interest early on for what is to happen, yet writing too much, too early, believing this will create more interest. However, of course, when the incidents eventually occur, there is the obvious connection with what was written earlier. How much, or how little should be alluded to early on to avoid this?
I have recently been having the same problem. I am writing my dissertation at the moment and it is concerned chiefly with what has happened before, though I have always abided by the maxim that one should show and never tell. Dialogue tends to be a helpful tool here, for example instead of introducing the plot in a minimalist fashion (i.e. Here is Jane, she is a ventriloquist) build it up, let the reader find it out. For example one could show Jane at work. I always find that we sell the reader far too short of the mark, on the whole they are a clever bunch. Just have faith in them and your own ability.