Shakespeare in Shanghai: 'The Taming of the Shrew' goes local
It might not be how Shakespeare pictured "Taming of the Shrew" but audiences are cramming in to see Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center's localized take of the bard's classic play.Shanghai audiences are no strangers to Shakespeare’s work. They've shed tears at “Romeo and Juliet,” applauded at Portia’s wit in “The Merchant of Venice,” and pondered Hamlet's fate as he delivered his famous lines. Attesting to local interest, China’s Shakespeare festival has been running here since 1986.
“I think Shakespeare’s plays performed in China were too conservative. We have tried to introduce TNT Theatre’s Shakespeare production into China but the result is just not as good as we expected,” says Yu Rongjun, producer and playwright of Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (SDAC). SDAC is now taking another tack: localizing the plays for Shanghai audiences.
Shakespeare in China: Act II
The recent stage production of “The Taming of the Shrew” co-produced by SDAC and Paul Stebbings, founder of the UK’s TNT Theatre, is aiming to change the ordinary Zhou’s understanding of Shakespeare’s classic works.
This pioneered version of the play sets the story’s background in 1930s Shanghai, with familiar local melodies like “Moli Hua” (Jasmine Flower) and “Ye Shanghai” (Shanghai Nights) performed live throughout. In addition to the actors and musicians on stage, the cast are joined by traditional Italian clowns, mimes and even a few kung fu masters -- all in the name of connecting the audience with this classic play. Stebbings has taken the essence from TNT’s version of “The Taming of the Shrew,” which he directed four years ago, and integrated it into the localized version.
Shakespeare set the play in a fantasy land -- his Italy is a wild and wonderful place -- just like 1930s historic Shanghai.— Paul Stebbings, co-producer of SDAC's "Taming of the Shrew"
“We want to produce something related with China. I think this localized version will be more appealing to Chinese audience,” Yu Rongjun further explains.
From 'The Taming' to 'The Tempest'
Stebbings, as one of the most experienced Shakespeare directors working in China, agrees with Yu, and is confident that locals will receive this show well.
“I wanted to do a collaboration that made sense of working together -- Chinese and English, East and West. So the production needed a style and setting that expressed that it was a collaboration,” he says. “Shakespeare set the play in a fantasy land -- his Italy is a wild and wonderful place -- just like 1930s historic Shanghai.”
And, their efforts might have paid off with strong ticket sales and packed houses at the first few shows.
“I never thought Shakespeare’s play can be so entertaining,” says Lily Chen, a local girl, after watching the show. “I would tell friend to see this.”
If “The Taming of the Shrew” succeeds with local audiences, SDAC plans to present a multimedia version of “The Tempest” later this year.
For ticket information or to reserve tickets call +86 21 6473 0123, +86 21 6473 4567 or go online to the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center's site at www.china-drama.com
