Ambitious modernization of ancient tale hits the right notes

Hong Kong singer Denise Ho (right) plays the lead role of Jia Baoyu in Awakening. Provided to China Daily

Knowing the beauties meet an unfortunate end makes each moment bittersweet, as Jia knows fate will sweep these moments away like a ruthless snowstorm.

Snowflakes flutter through the warehouse throughout the four-hour play.

Ho, who plays the role of Jia, sings seven songs that serve as the play's emotional high points. Some critics have grumbled that Ho's songs interrupted the play's flow.

However, in my opinion, it's necessary to allow three to four minutes for the audience to empathize with the characters and Ho's penetrating voice and lyrics to describe the emotions clouding Jia's mind.

The performers' quick speech and lighthearted manner sometimes failed to portray to the audience the solemnity of the narrative.

Awakening's biggest twist comes at Jia's wedding. In the novel, the bride is Xue Baochai, a girl Jia doesn't love, but his family favors. However, in the play it is Lin who appears when Jia takes away the bridal veil.

Jia makes a surprising choice: He gives up the chance to marry his love and instead marries Xue, asking Lin to wait to be reunited with him in the fairyland.

Ho says she can understand and accept Jia's choice.

"There are a lot of crossroads in life where we need to make a choice immediately. We usually regret it later, but I think all these things I regret are the nutrition for my growth," Ho says.

Awakening is the 50th production of Edward Lam Dance Theatre.

Lam says he is passionate about reinterpreting classic literature.

"The classics are the ticket for me to enter a Disneyland where we can explore and decide how we are related to the figures in the ancient world," he explains.

Awakening is on a national tour to 11 cities, including Beijing, until June.