There's an abundance of activity on stages across Shanghai in the next few weeks. Here's a little round-up of some theatrical stuff that looks good. Live theatre is the new Mexican. ***
M. Butterfly
Runs:Nov 25-28 (Starts 7:30pm each night; 3pm matinee on Nov 28) Location: Ke Center Tickets: 200rmb at door (reservation recommended); 170rmb Pre-sale; 150rmb for group of 10 or more people Contact: tickets@zuloo.co.uk Staring Shanghai's most famous/fabulous jazz vocalist, Coco Zhao in the titular role, M. Butterfly is a 1988 Tony-award-wining, Pulitzer-nominated play by David Henry Hwang inspired by the Puccini opera, Madam Butterfly. Released to massive acclaim in the late '80s, M. Butterfly has since been canonized as a classic post colonial theatre piece, simmering provocatively at the vortex of racial, gender, and sexual politics. Taboo. Taboo. Taboo. This Shanghai run is being put on by prolific locally-based theatre group Zuloo Theatre Productions, and sees Daniel Roy Connelly directing. M. Butterfly is based on the relationship and shared lives of French diplomat Bernard Boursicot and Shi Pei Pu, a male Peking opera singer. Forbidden love. International intrigue. Political turmoil. Heart-wrenching tragedy. It doesn't get any hotter. Also, if you'd like to cheat, check out the 1993 film directed by David Cronenberg of the same name. It's got Jeremy Irons!
Ich Bin Bertie Einstein
Runs:December 5-12 (Starts 8pm) Location: Creek Art, 3rd Floor, 424 Guang Fu Lu,by Wu Zhen Lu. Tickets:100rmb (incl. a much welcome, welcome glass of wine) Contact: 15601627999 / alejandrapinggera@gmail.com Conceived of by locally-based Chinese and international artists, Ich Bin Bertie Einstein reinterprets traditional Chinese Opera in the telling of Albert "Bertie" Einstein's visit to China. Offering what appears to be digital era Theatre of the Absurd, this original production is "part audiovisual spectacular, part interactive Electro-Opera" and purports to include "explosions and live animals." Directed by Alejandra Pinggera. Come equipped with a wealth of Baudrillard quotations to drop recklessly and without fore-thought in post production cocktail recaps. The opening night on the 5th of December will also be followed by a late-night electronic live music event called "Alternative Expression" on the 5th Floor of Creek Art, organized by Alex Furk. Ticket price for this is 40rmb and will start at 10pm.
A Christmas Carol
Runs:Dec 2-6 Location: Ke Center Tickets: 150rmb (child/student); 200rmb (adult); Family Pack: 600rmb (2 children, 2 adults); Group Deal: Buy 10 adult tickets and get 2 Free. Contact: www.kecenter.org.cn and www.ticket2010.com / Phone: 13641701170 From whacked-out alternative theatre and controversial gender-bender pot boilers, if you're looking for classic family theatre, Shanghai's newest production group, Shanghai Repertory Theatre (SRT) is hosting a short run of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol from Dec 2-5. Not much introduction needs to be given for this one: Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Jacob Marley, Ghosts (Past, Present, Future), the central importance of human compassion and empathy, the Christmas spirit... emotionally restorative theatre for the whole family. This is the first production from SRT, a new group out of the vestiges of East West Theatre, and their mandate has them seeking to up the caliber of local theatre, so we look forward to this and future productions.
Fame - The Musical
Runs:Dec 23-Jan 3 (Starts: 7:30) Location: Shanghai City Theatre Tickets: From next to nothing to close to a billion. Contact: Available on SmartTicket here. "I'm going to live forever"... It all started with the film, Fame, released in 1980. What a terrific year that was. Since then, the story of a group of vibrant, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, triple threats auditioning at New York City's High School of Performing Arts, has been transformed into a TV series, a reality TV series, and finally and most fabulously, a real life musical! It premiered in Florida in 1988, which somehow makes sense. Book is by Jose Fernandez and music by Steve Margoshes (under the aegis of original producer David De Silva). Expect love, loss, redemption, introspection, personal evolution, hot young people, meditations on art, success -- yes, fame -- and a powerful concluding scene with someone dancing on top of a taxi belting out the titular song.
