Whew! And that's the simple version.

"It is very challenging to adapt the classic into a dance drama," says Ying Zhiqi, the director. "Words can help telling the story in opera, yet in dance, we can only use our body movement."

The troupe carefully studied the Kunqu Opera version and adopted some of the gestures and movements. The dance also features romantic dream-like settings.

According to Ying, the dreamworld is where most of the romance takes place. "The lovers meet in a dream and later Du's ghost keeps dating Liu in his dreams," she says.

The peony, China's national flower, symbolizes wealth and luck. It is used in this drama to show emotions of the characters and aid the storytelling. A red peony symbolizes restrictions, gray peonies indicate sadness and grief, a black peony represents hell and a white peony represents resurrection.

The universally beloved fairytale "Cinderella" will be presented as a Broadway-style show. It is based on the TV musical version created by the golden partners Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.

The production remains true to the original story by Charles Perrault in the 17th century.

Lea Salonga from the Philippines will play Cinderella. She won a Tony Award for her role in the musical "Miss Saigon" in 1989. She was the voice of Princess Jasmine and Hua Mulan in Disney cartoon films.

The prince will be played by 25-year-old Peter Saide from Australia, the former CQUniversity music theatre student.

Salonga's two-year-old daughter "kept chasing the prince in our rehearsal," she says. "It makes me realize what an amazing role Cinderella plays in a girl's life."

Designer Renato Balestra, who has designed gowns for royalty of many countries, designed the costumes. All will be displayed at an exhibition later.

"The Peony Pavilion"

Date: October 18-19, 7:30pm

Venue: Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 People's Ave

Tickets: 180-880 yuan

Tel: 5169-1055

"Cinderella"

Date: October 17-22, 7:30pm

Venue: Shanghai Majestic Theater, 66 Jiangning Rd

Tickets: 180-1,080 yuan

Tel: 6217-2426, 6217-3055

(Shanghai Daily September 18, 2008)