It's perhaps not so hard to imagine visiting a theater and encountering Jia Baoyu, the protagonist of the Chinese classic A Dream of Red Mansions. Perhaps somewhat more jarring would be meeting that same character, or maybe just his spirit, in a small alley in modern-day southern China.
These are just the sort of surreal experiences that await visitors to the Unique Dream of Red Mansion, an arts complex in Langfang, Hebei province that has become a popular attraction with more than just lovers of the classic book.
Within the complex's ethereal architecture and alongside its bold art devices, a number of theatrical plays tapping into the novel's themes are performed. Each production offers a new interpretation of the story, which was written by Cao Xueqin during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), or the characters within.
Rather than simply retelling the well-known tale, the productions recreate the book's protagonists and transplant them into different times and places, and have them interact with visitors. Among them, a popular character is Jia.
The complex's Reader's Theater is a prime example of this creative approach. It is a "walking play" that departs from traditional static viewing, allowing the audience to move through different spaces.
The play reimagines some of the most dramatic moments from the novel, including the famous inspection of the Daguan Garden and the fate of Jia.
This immersive production, which includes a circular stage and specially created art installations, requires the audience to physically follow the story, creating a seamless and engaging narrative experience.
Zhao Xinlong, an actor who portrays Jia in the Reader's Theater, provides a classic interpretation of the character. He describes Jia as a fundamentally "free, kind and gentle person".
"Though, he's not completely free due to his identity. He is very simple, without any sense of hierarchy or social distinction," says Zhao.
"The entire story is a continuous experience, showing a more complete and three-dimensional Jia."
His performance covers Jia's playful interactions with Lin Daiyu, a beautiful and sentimental character in the novel. The play also depicts their painful conflicts and the psychological collapse that follows a misunderstanding on his wedding day.
For Zhao, the theater's intimate setup created a unique challenge. Unlike a traditional stage, the audience is in very close proximity, seeing every detail.
"The stage is so close to the audience," he says. "They can see all of your expressions, your every movement, your lines — even normally imperceptible micro-expressions. This environment demands a different kind of performance, allowing me to bring Jia's inner world of joy and sorrow to life in a more delicate and precise way for the audience."
While the Reader's Theater immerses the audience in the classic story, a smaller theater, the Second Store, takes a distinctly different direction, presenting a contemporary interpretation.
The play is set in a small alley in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in 1974, and focuses on a young man named Wang Zhigang, a simple, kindhearted person whom others call Baoyu.
According to the actor who plays Wang, Mo Yening, this nickname is intentionally designed.
"Wang likes to read A Dream of Red Mansions and has a lot of qualities just like the main character Jia Baoyu," says Mo. "The two characters, Wang and Jia, share a connection in their actions and values."
For his role, Mo undertook extensive research of the time period to ensure his portrayal of Wang's motivations were convincing.
"I watched films and documentaries and, most importantly, I learned about more about the lives and stories of my grandparents. That way, I could better understand the character who lived in a similar era to them," Mo explains.
"My character's motivation is simple. He doesn't want to see others suffer," says Mo, who emphasizes that the character's earnest desire is to help others, even when it puts him in a difficult position.
Just like Jia from the novel, Wang spends most of his time with his female friends, and is misunderstood because of his behavior. However, like Jia, Wang treats women with respect and warm heartedness, helping them in a good way.
The "send-off" segment at the end of some performances is particularly popular, allowing for direct interaction. Mo recalls many touching moments on the stage, including once when a young girl ran to check on him after a scene where Wang is unexpectedly stabbed. Mo says he would often receive handwritten cards from fans, which also deeply moved him.
"It really brings out the kind side of everyone," says Mo.
"The audience deeply experiences each performance," Zhao says. "These interactions highlight the personal connection audiences form with these reinterpretations of Jia."
One of the central ideas of Unique Dream of Red Mansion is to reinterpret tradition for a modern audience. The complex's director, Wang Chaoge, describes the project as "reading history with the eyes of the times".
She explains that the aim of these plays is to engage in a "creative transformation" that allows the traditional classic to find new and innovative expression in a contemporary context.
By bringing the spirit of the novel's characters to life in a variety of settings — from a grand, immersive spectacle, to a nuanced, modern tale — she demonstrates that the themes of empathy and kindness found in the park's plays are as relevant today as they were centuries ago.
