The stage shows its silly side
Updated: 2011-11-29 10:37
(China Daily)
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The Liyuan Opera, Dong Sheng and Li Shi, will be staged on Dec 28.
The play revolves around a young widow, Li Shi, and a man, Dong Sheng. Before his death, Li's husband, the richest man in the village, asks Dong, the village's poorest and ugliest man, to keep an eye on Li, in case she gets married again. However, the widow sees through the plot and teases the dull Dong. Unexpectedly, she falls for the stupid man.
The Count of Mount Wulong will be staged on Dec 30 and Dec 31.
The show tells of Xie Xie, a loser in life, who gets a check of 1 million yuan by accident. The unexpected fortune brings trouble, and he gets involved in a police chase. Xie escapes to Mount Wulong and plans revenge on the person who set him up. The show is directed by Yan Fei and stars Shen Teng, Ma Li and Chang Yuan.
Ridiculous Dinner will be staged from Jan 1 to Jan 3, 2012.
Veteran comedian Chen Peisi has been making original comedies for the past 10 years. Ridiculous Dinner is his first adaptation for a decade and is based on the popular French play Le Diner de Cons (The Dinner Game) by French writer-director Francis Veber.
Breakup Master will be staged on Jan 5 and Jan 6, 2012.
Renowned playwright Yu Baimei is famous for his witty dialogues and sharp observations of social lives. In his latest play, Breakup Master, he portrays three pairs of couples, who are on the verge of breaking up. Each faces troubles in their lives, which test their love. Cao Yunjin and Dai Lele will play the lead roles.
The Fight of Bad Guys will be staged on Jan 8 and Jan 9, 2012.
Adapted from Tony award-winner Ken Ludwig's Leading Ladies and directed by Li Li, the hilarious comedy tells the tale of two jobless actors, who find themselves down on their luck. When they hear that an old lady is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long-lost nephews, they decide to get the money. However, when they get there, they find the relatives are not nephews but nieces. Starring Chen He and Xie Shuai.
Funny Money will be staged from Dec 21 to Dec 25, 2011.
Chinese director Ren Mai adapted Funny Money, a classic Broadway show written by Ray Cooney, which premiered at the Churchill Theatre of London in 1994. The story begins with the middle-aged man Henry Perkins picking up the wrong suitcase on his way home. He realizes his mistake when he opens the case and finds more than $1 million inside. It stars Zhang Yi, Tang Yuan and Song Bo.
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus will be staged from Dec 28 to Jan 1, 2012.
Veteran comedian Bai Yu (pictured below) is responsible for the Chinese stage version of the one-man show adapted from the enormously popular book, which has sold 40 million copies worldwide. He uses everyday situations to explain why the differences between the two sexes are so frustrating and what we can do to improve relations.
The musical comedy Beloved will be staged from Jan 4 to Jan 8, 2012.
Directed and written by Wang Li, the winner of the 2010 International Family Film Festival's Best Comedy award, the play is essentially a love story. It stars Li Hua, Zhou Chuanzhen and Ning Wentong.
If you go
All eight comedies will be staged at Century Theater, 21st Century Hotel, 40 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang district. 400-610-3721.