Monkey King musical makes jaws drop

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Every Chinese grows up with the story of the Monkey King, but I'll bet not many have ever seen it like this: the main character is an African-American who dances hip-hop; the Emperor of Heaven wears Prada, Gucci and Armani; the Dragon King and his wife fight with each other about whether to give weapons to the monkey or not; their three daughters, all in modern dresses and high-heel shoes, compete for the heart of the monkey.

Everything in the new version of the Monkey King musical, co-produced by Beijing Performance & Arts Group and Beijing Genhua International Culture and Media, makes jaws drop.

Broadway actor Apollo Levine, who plays the monkey, sings in English while he duets with the Emperor of Heaven actor who sings in Chinese. The monkey converses in English with his followers, who all speak in Chinese.

Audiences may feel a bit disconnected in the first few minutes, but are soon so drawn by the actors' emotions and the dramatic story, that they will not find anything strange in the musical.

The story is no longer a hundred-year-old folklore about the gods, the spirits and Buddha, but an aspiring contemporary drama about a young man who keeps leaving home in search for adventures, after he gains power, he takes the responsibility to protect his family and finally realizes the value of home.

"I had no idea about the Monkey King before I came here. The cast and director are wonderful and they help me learn everything about the story. I watched movies and television versions," Levine says.

"I always try to find something in me similar to the character and get to the table. Ironically, I find myself in the monkey. Like him, I travel and explore everywhere. I don't want to stay at home. The play helps me to find my responsibility in my family."