The Beijing People's Art Theatre, a leader in Chinese drama, is making its contribution to the one year anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake. The theatre first staged a drama called "Live, Lively" last July and now, the theatre will stage the production again to remember those who died and to encourage the survivors.
The drama begins with an ordinary household scene in downtown Beijing. May the 12th was Wang Baonian's birthday. And his nursemaid organized a celebration. She invited her friends, all natives of Sichuan, to come and celebrate. The old gentleman's sons, an entrepreneur and a doctor arrived late. Just as the party began, came news of the Sichuan earthquake.
Life changed for everyone. Wang's sons did their part. One donated money and relief supplies. The other joined an emergency medical team. The catastrophe forced the young nursemaid and her friends to see the world in a different way, as the magnitude of the event unfolded.
The drama stars prestigious veteran actors Zhu Xu, Pu Cunxi and actress Chen Xiaoyi. They are happy to rejoin the drama, and believe it will encourage the audiences to explore their own feelings.
There is a message to the story -- about how to live and how to "live" and be "lively," in the face of disaster.
The drama will be staged for six continuous nights at the Capital Theatre from May the 12th.
(CCTV May 14, 2009)
