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'Life Show': A story of pain, passion, dreams
(China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-07 08:41
Tian Qinxin is one of the few theatre directors who is not overly productive,
but whose works are very popular among theatre-goers in the national capital.
The director of the
play "Life Show," Tian Qinxin(center) together with cast members Wa
Ji(left) and Cai Guoqing at a release conference.
| Since debuting with "Broken Wrist" (Duanwan) in 1997, Tian has established a
reputation for combining feminine delicacy and profound power with the
contemporary Western concept of drama and traditional Chinese opera.
Every year, she presents a play. And very soon, her 2004 production - "Life
Show" (Shenghuo Xiu) will grace the Poly Theatre with five performances.
Search for director
But this time, Tian is not the only reason people are waiting for the
production with bated breath.
First of all, "Life Show" has been adapted from a best-selling novel of the
same name by award-winning writer Chi Li.
And in last two years, the story was also adapted into a feature movie and a
top-rating TV serial.
The movie, directed by Huo Jianqi, and starring actress Tao Hong, was awarded
the Best Feature Movie and Best Actress gongs at the 2002 Shanghai International
Film Festival.
Despite the success, it is reported that the writer herself was not very
satisfied with the two versions. Chi has been quoted as saying that they failed
to read between the lines.
But Chi is looking forward to Tian's stage version - even though she knows it
will be very different from the original story.
Chi has been quoted as saying that she believes in Tian, after talking with
her in early March. Tian convinced Chi that she would be able to read between
the lines.
Chi is not the only person with confidence in Tian. She was introduced to the
director by He Jing, the play's producer.
"Life Show" is the first theatre production for He, a middle-school
teacher-turned movie and TV producer.
He told China Daily that, after she got the right from Chi to adapt the novel
into a play two years ago, she talked with a number of acclaimed directors such
as Lin Zhaohua, Ren Ming, Lou Naiming and Zha Mingzhe. But none of them made her
feel the way Tian did - eventually.
The National Drama Theatre recommended Tian to her. However, He was not sure
whether Tian was the right person for the job, although she had seen most of
Tian's plays.
He was upset to learn that Tian had not read the original novel, nor had she
seen the movie or TV serial adapted from it.
In fact, the stage director claims that she seldom reads Chinese contemporary
novels.
In early February, He and Tian met for the first time, at the cafe at Poly
Plaza.
They got off to a flying start. Tian sat and read the story in about 90
minutes and then agreed to rewrite it and put it on stage.
"We spent merely 10 minutes exchanging ideas on how to bring the story to the
theatre and her understanding and interpretation of the story impressed me," He
said.
"I decided at that moment that Tian was the director I wanted.
"She is very quiet and even a bit shy, but the conservativeness does not
conceal her unusual explosive passion, power and imagination of drama."
Despite her attachment to the project, Tian, as usual, remains pretty
tightlipped before the premiere.
This is the first time for her to direct a play that tells a contemporary
story. She takes "Life Show" as an assignment and hopes she will do a good job.
Singer's choice
People who know both Chi and Tian's works well may be curious about how the
director interprets the writer. Chi is addicted to portraying trivial things in
common people's lives, while Tian pursues a high spiritual standard in her
plays.
Tian said after accepting the assignment, she rewrote the story in a month,
"keeping only the main roles of the original novel but changing most of the
plot."
It tells a story of how four children from a broken family grow up with pain
and passion, and pursue their dreams and loves.
In line with Tian's consistent approach, "Life Show" further brings out every
characters' personality and destiny, instead of revealing a dramatic plot.
Under her direction, the performers act with exaggerated and striking poses
and movements, while the stage brims with intense and enthusiastic power.
In addition to Tian's command, the audience will also be wooed by the cast,
many of whom have not performed drama for years.
The heroine, Lai Shuangyang, is portrayed by Wang Ji, a popular actress on
screen who is famous for her roles in the TV serial "Beijingers in New York" and
the movie "Painted Women" (Hong Fen), which won the Silver Bear award at the
1995 Berlin Film Festival.
"I have to admit that the theatre stage is somehow strange to me, since I
have been away from it for 17 years," said Wang.
"It takes time to re-establish a relationship with the stage, and director
Tian has helped a lot in that sense.
"What's more, I feel there's something predestined in me being involved in
'Life Show.'
"Last year, someone asked me to perform the role of Lai Shuangyang in the TV
serial, but I missed it because of my work schedule."
Ju Xue, starring as the sister, Lai Shuangyuan, usually plays very feminine
roles in movies.
"Even I didn't think I would fit the role of Shuangyuan, who is not willing
to live a common life and pursues her loves and dreams boldly," Ju said.
However, Wang and Ju are not the most surprising choices.
The biggest challenge comes with pop singer Cai Guoqing, who has had a sunny
and healthy image for a dozen years. He will play drug addict Lai Shuangjiu.
Few people know that Cai graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 1988.
But even during his time at the academy, Cai usually performed squeaky clean
characters.
"Many of my friends were shocked to know that I was going to play the role of
Lai Shuangjiu. They think a drug addict persona is too far from my personality
and it might destroy my healthy image," Cai says.
"However, I fell in love with the script as soon as I read it. And as I got
into the role gradually, I could feel his clean heart, which is a far cry from
the vulgar reality."
Cai said he seldom goes to clubs or discos but in order to get a feel for
night life, which is often associated with drugs, he visited such places
recently.
His devotion and delivery of the character won the approval of the director
and other actors.
"Life Show" will be on stage from June 18 to 22.
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