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Home , Gao Yuanyuan, In the Heat of the Sun, Xia Yu (actor)

LIFESTAGE 19 DAILY WEDNESDAY APRIL 4, 2007

Sex and the Chinese cities

A Chinese stage version of an American movie made more than half a century ago reveals some social issues never change. Chen Jie reports

Left: An Exotic Encoun- ter features a top-notch cast including (left), voted Best Actor at the 1994 , and actress Gao Yuanyuan.

emember the winner of the cold, while the I think the and actor Xia. “I am sure their Center: Meng 1960 Best Picture Oscar boss enjoys all similar stories performance will surprise you, Jinghui (front) The Apartment? Director the comforts are happen- especially Gao,” he said. puts his Billy Wilder’s bittersweet, and protection ing in every At fi rst, Meng was not very certain performers heart-rending, tragic-com- of the apart- big city in the about his choice of a leading lady. Gao through the Redy was a tale about everyday people ment. world today,” became famous when she was a high paces at a who get tangled up in love and jeal- The plot says Meng school student after starring in the rehearsal of his ousy. Now Chinese director Meng thickens when who rewrote movie in 1997. She latest produc- Jinghui, known for his experimental Han discovers the story with had never formally learned acting tion in . theatrical works, retells the classic the building’s Shi. and had no theatrical experience. Photos by Jiang American story in his own way. elevator girl “A good di- “But later I found she is natural, Dong His Beijing production features and his love rector should sensitive and very close to the role,” a top-notch cast led by Xia Yu, the interest, have an eye for says Meng. Best Actor in the 1994 Venice Film Mo Mo (Gao an interesting Meng’s critics say he has reconciled Festival and also Gao Yuanyuan and Yuanyuan), story. When I cynical theater (a typical Meng’s ele- Chen Minghao. has also been studied at the ment) with a sentimental love story, Wilder’s sophisticated yet cynical seduced by Central Acad- like he did in his 2005 production fi lm is a bleak assessment of corpo- his boss and emy of Drama, The Amber and is failing to develop rate America. Starring , taken to his I thought the as a director. Shirley MacLaine and Fred MacMur- apartment most impor- Meng has no regrets and is happy ray, its focus was on corporate poli- for romantic tant lesson with his own style. tics and sexual immorality. Meng’s liaisons. was the first “Woody Allen has been making one An Exotic Encounter carries similar Wilder’s movie sours in the end somehow get together? chapter of ‘The Theory of Direction’, type of movie all his life and so did themes revealing the working life when MacLaine’s character attempts Much of the suspense truly lies which teaches how to find a good Federico Fellini,” he said. and personal emotions of today’s suicide by overdosing on the sleeping in whether they will both let go of story. “The point is whether this type of young Chinese people who live in pills after having another argument the things they so desperately want “You don’t need to waste time to work is worth doing. I don’t think I the skyscraper jungle. with the boss over his unwillingness and that so viciously wounds them learn the following chapters about reconcile myself to anything. The plot revolves around a com- to leave his wife. emotionally. how to structure a play or how to in- “In my plays, criticizing the society, pliant insurance clerk Han Dong Meng’s play offers a multiple choice For Mo Mo, it is the need to be loved spire the actors. All these you could expressing my attitude to the world (Xia Yu) who secretly lends out his of options for the three leading play- by the boss, and for Han, it is the need learn from the practices.” and exploring the emotional world of apartment to his married boss (Chen ers. The fi nal answer is left to the to move up the corporate ladder. Meng does not want to say too present Chinese people are two sides Minghao) who needs a place to frolic audience to ponder. Director Meng says his play is about much about the play before the of one coin.” with his mistresses. Does Han literally prostitute his “sex, rights, lies and videotapes”. premiere but reveals all the cast The adapted multi-media music Han hopes his boss will promote own standards and moral integrity “The plot impressed me when the and crew enjoyed the rehearsal and theater entitled An Exotic Encounter him for his help. Meanwhile, he’s and allow himself to be exploited? playwright Shi Hang suggested it work. He gives two thumbs up for will run at Poly Theater from tomor- stuck outside all night, catching a Or does Han save Mo Mo and the two to me. Though it’s a 1960s movie, the performances of actress Gao row to April 15. ‘I am very certain about what I do or say’ China Daily (CD): Do you and your actor. I think it has something to do but gradually I got used to it. And als. I feel the way that I work in a character Han Dong have anything with my experience in movies. When I am confi dent about Meng’s talent TV serial has limited my imagina- in common? shooting a movie, we do not act from the and experience and I believe I will tion and creation. It seems you have Xia Yu (Xia): Briefl y speaking, fi rst scene to the last, so before I start a give a wonderful performance under played a game for too long time and Han is a hesitant man. I am a totally fi lm, I should read the role pretty well his direction. looking forward to a new one. But it different person. I would not spend and naturally act the role as one person CD: Why did you want to act in does not mean I would not play TV a long time making a decision. Usu- in different scenes. theater? serial any longer and also I want to ally I am very certain about what I It’s totally not the case in theater. Xia: I did not think too much say I still love to play movie most. do or say. In theater, today’s acting would be about “why”? I played in only three To me, the theater acting is a CD: Acting in a play is very very different from yesterday, espe- small theater works when I was in fresh experience and a challenge different from a movie or TV. What cially working with director Meng the . I and I believe it will benefi t me a lot is the major difference? You have who has different ideas on the roles, used to feel closer to movies than in my future career. Director Meng also mostly worked in movies and the story every day. theater perhaps because the reason is the major reason I agreed to this This year’s Beijing Music Festival will bring together world-renowned TV since you graduated from the Most actors in the play have that I became an actor was I played work. The fi rst play I watched was musicians including Chinese pianist Lang Lang (above). Jiang Dong Central Academy of Drama in 1999. worked with him so they are famil- and this Meng’s The Balcony and I watched Now you are collaborating with iar with his style and adapt to his brought me many awards when I it four times. I was impressed and Meng Jinghui who is known for his approach easily. They are at ease, was in high school. wished I could work with Meng one Where the wild strings are experimental style in theater. This like playing a game. But for me, it is In the last eight years I have day. is a challenging move for you. the fi rst time and a big challenge. I played many movies and TV serial By Chen Jie composers for the event. Xia: Meng says I am a very rational did not do well in the fi rst few days and feel somehow tired of TV seri- China Daily About 10 days longer than the previous years, the 10th Beijing One of the world’s best violin Music Festival will run from late Golden boy of the box offi ce virtuosos, Nigel Kennedy, will September to early November. Xia Yu was born in , Shandong join a star-studded line-up for Started in 1998 by conduc- Province in 1976 and was fi rst discovered this year’s Beijing Music Festival tor Yu Long, the BMF has by director 18 years later. (BMF). Kennedy’s recording of established itself as one of the His performance In the Heat of the Sun “Four Seasons” is the best-selling best annual cultural events in (1994) rocketed him to international stardom classical work of all time ü more China and one of the world’s after he won the Venice Film Festival Best than 2 million copies have been top festivals of classic music. Actor award. He became the youngest actor sold ü and also released an To celebrate its 10th anniver- in the festival’s history to win the award, album of Jimi Hendrix rock song sary, the Arts Foundation of and he went on to win Best Actor awards covers. the Beijing Music Festival will at the Singapore International Film Festival BMF program director Zeng hold a seminar this month and and ’s Golden Horse Awards. Wei said the world’s best classical to review its achievements and The Law of Romance (2003) won musicians will join local artists to plan its future. him a Golden Rooster Award and Wait- raise the festival’s standard to its Representatives from the ing Alone (2005) earned him Best Actor highest level. Pianist Lang Lang Chinese Musicians’ Association, at the 12th Chinese Student Film Festival will collaborate with six or seven China Central Conservatory Awards. world-known orchestras. Other of Music, China Philharmonic In 1995, Xia was accepted into the renowned musicians include the Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Central Academy of Drama. After complet- pianist Daniel Barenboim and Orchestra, Shanghai Opera House ing his studies, he remained an active force cellist Mischa Maisky. and the China Academy of Arts in Chinese cinema as well as television. He In addition, BMF has commis- will take part. may not be the most prolifi c of actors, but sioned Polish composer Krzysztof The Arts Foundation of BMF every one of his fi lms has been a box of- Penderecki and Chinese compos- will also sponsor musicians on a fi ce winner. er Ye Xiaogang to create works for composing trip to Tibet in June this year’s festival. It is the fi rst and publish a book to mark the China Daily Xia Yu in the movie Waiting Alone (2005) which earned him the Best Actor award at the 12th Chinese time the BMF has commissioned 10th anniversary in August. Student Film Festival Awards. File photo