Dramas in the English language have recently become a new favorite
of Chinese audiences.
The Kneehigh Theatre, a 20-year-old troupe from Cornwall in
southwest Britain, has already tasted success in China with the
staging of "The Red Shoes".
Currently, the drama is being put on at the Beijing People's Art
Theater, and there are altogether four performances.
When the troupe staged three performances of "The Red Shoes" at
Shanghai's Dramatic Arts Center (SDAC) earlier this month, all the
tickets were sold out a week ahead.
Adapted from Hans Andersen's fairy tale, the drama depicts a girl
who gets a pair of magic red shoes, but later is punished for her
vanity by having to dance in the shoes until they ruin her
feet.
"I
was a little bit anxious about the language obstacles at the
beginning, since English humor is very difficult to understand.
However, I think the audiences caught the jokes," said the troupe's
director, Emma Rice.
"The Red Shoes" is the first English drama presented in China this
year.
Last year, there were a few such dramas, and many more will be
staged, including the "Three Dark Stories".
"We have carefully chosen the dramas to ensure that the audience
can understand them," said Yu Rongjun, a playwright with the
center.
These dramas emphasize body movements rather than dialogue, which
enables an audience which does not understand English to enjoy them
too.
"Completely different from domestic ones, English dramas usually
bring about fresh new ideas, which makes them stand out among all
kinds of dramas," said Wu Jia from SDAC.
It
is noteworthy that dramas in English have helped the resurgence of
this traditional art. With the introduction of English dramas,
Shanghai's major theaters have witnessed a sharp increase in
audiences, and most of the playgoers are under the ageof 30.
Last year, "Smallpox and Hot-dog" and "The Last Day of A Woman" --
in bilingual versions -- packed the theaters where they were
performed in Shanghai.
Even the classical drama "Macbeth" with its lengthy dialogues in
Shakespearean English attracted Chinese audiences.
Professors from the Shanghai Drama Institute consider that
excellent works of Western dramas usually have strong experimental
color and can provoke thought. Therefore, language barriers cannot
hinder the communication between actors and audience.
A
survey conducted by the SDAC found that over 97 percent of those
surveyed liked to watch English-language dramas, and 50 percent
said they do not need subtitles.
In
addition, the large number of foreigners living in China's major
cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, have also applauded the
arrival of English dramas.
"It was great to watch an English drama in Shanghai, and the play
was really funny," said Linda Johnson, who came from Britain a year
ago.
(Xinhua News
Agency January 25, 2002)