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Running on Empty, the unfinished autobiography of Lao She, who has been called "the people's artist" in China, will be staged this week in the Capital Theater.
To celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of the eminent writer, the work will be presented as Quju Opera, Lao She's favorite drama style.
The drama showcases Lao She's unusual birth, his sister's tragic marriage, his father's death during the invasion of the Eight Allied forces and his relatives'various dilemmas in the late Qing dynasty (1644--1699).
By portraying the different lives of bannermen at that time, it unveils the doomed degeneration of the dynasty.
Costing around 800,000 yuan (US$96,386) to stage and boasting a cast of about 100 performers, the drama has earned high praise for its unique Beijing flavor.
Striking designs include bannermen's costumes and the harmonious combination of local folk songs and dances with the plots adding to the drama.
Running on the Empty is the seventh drama written by Lao She to be played as Quju Opera.
As a new school growing since the 1950s, Quju Opera is known as the only local drama in Beijing. Lao She, who gave the name Quju Opera to the new genre, described it as "a new national opera in China absorbing dialects and folk music in Beijing."
Over half a century the new drama has developed its unique style. It mainly consists of talking, dancing and singing. Its content focuses on Beijingers'lives and its music heavily depends on mono-chordic tunes and folk songs from northern China.
Time: Feb 11 to 14
Price: 50 to 280 yuan
Location: Capital Theater
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