Li Bonan's Work Lao Zhang's Philosophy
Date: March 1-4 - 7:30 pm
Venue: NCPA
The play is adapted from Lao Zhang's Philosophy, Laoshe's first full-length novel of the same title published in Fiction Monthly Magazine in 1926. The novel is set in the early Republic of China, an warlord era when small potatoes of various kinds in the town outside Deshengmen, Beijing experienced the ups and downs of life, went through grief at separation and joy in union, and chased their own dreams in the tide of the times. The protagonist Mr. Zhang is greedy for money, and dreams of getting rich all his life. His philosophy of life is, in a word, "money", since he believes that "money makes the mare go, and there is milk and bread prepared for those that understand the times." The play is rearranged and innovated audaciously based on an intensive study of the original. More authentic local customs of the old Beijing are integrated into the play to reveal how the war is excruciating. The narrative technique and performance means are also refreshed on the basis of the tradition: a performer plays two roles, and dreams are completely blended with the reality, giving the old work a new look.
