Looking West to Chang'an (
Xi Wang Chang'an) was
written by Lao She (1899-1966) and is directed by Lou Naiming at
the Poly Theater in Beijing.
The 1950s play depicts how a relative nobody became a top
official through fraud and how he was later exposed as a cheat. In
the play, the conman takes advantage of people's gullibility,
forges papers, steals other people's identity cards, and lies about
his past to swindle his way through a bureaucratic maze.
"My role in the play is a cheat, which suits me very much," said
Ge, who has succeeded in many comic roles.
Ge's last movie role stunned fans because he played a more
serious role as an emperor in The Banquet co-starring with
China's rising star Zhang Ziyi.
Looking West to Chang'an gives Ge an opportunity to
return to his roots, both in the area of comedy and stage.
This play is not as well known compared to Lao She's other
works, such as Tea House or Dragon Beard Ditch.
It was first staged by the former China Youth Art Theater in 1956
and has not been performed for more than half a century.
"The play has its social background, but it's not my job to give
a lecture of history," said director Lou. "What I can do is to make
the play interesting for today's audiences."
In this version, Lou uses flashing visual images and rock music
to make the play more contemporary. Apart from the form, she
believes the theme of the play is still relevant today.
For example, Li Wancheng (Li is the same word as chestnut and
Wancheng means making fame at an old age) forges documents to lie
about his identity and today the phenomenon is so common that the
advertisements for forged stamps and certificates can be seen
plastered on the bricks of sidewalks of every major city in
China.
Images of such advertisements flash up on stage in the play when
Li is forging his fake IDs.
Between the scenes, new lines were added to the original script,
many improvised by Ge in his unique style of humor.
"On the basis of the original script, we have added a little
exaggerated effects," said Lou.
When asked whether there is a risk of himself overshadowing his
role and the whole play, Ge said: "The audience might come to the
theater to see me, but they will find that it is a play that they
are watching."
Ge used food analogy to compare theater and film. Stage drama
was cooking a fresh dish and film was eating from a can.
If this play succeeds, Ge will consider more dramas.
"A drama comprises both the cast and audiences," said Ge. "Now
we have prepared our part, the rest is for the audience to
finish."
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese
modern drama and the 108th birth anniversary of Lao She.
After the Beijing show finishes on February 11, the play will
tour Shanghai from March 1 to 4, then move to Guangdong Province
where it will be staged at Dongguan from 24 to 25 and Shenzhen from
29 to 31.
(China Daily February 6, 2007)
