The Troupe of Masters of Fine Arts at Nanjing University will present the popular Chinese-language drama “The Face of Chiang Kai-shek” in Shenzhen this weekend.
The drama is a fictitious story written by Wen Fangyi, a student in the Department of Drama, Film and Television of the School of Liberal Arts, Nanjing University.
A poster of the drama. Photo from Pingshan Theater
The drama is set in 1943 when Chiang Kai-shek was president of the old Nanjing University. Chiang invited three professors from the Department of Chinese Language and Literature to dinner. It made the three professors feel embarrassed: To go or not to go was an awkward matter. Later in 1967, the three professors were investigated because of this matter. Each of them had different memories of whether they had been invited by Chiang and whether they had attended Chiang’s dinner.
In 2012, Wen was guided in writing her term paper by professor Lyu Xiaoping. Wen was assigned to write a comedy titled “The Face of Chiang Kai-shek” based on the legend of Chiang. In May 2012, on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of Nanjing University, the Troupe of Masters of Fine Arts at Nanjing University staged the drama and it was directed by Lyu.
Over the past eight years, the drama has been staged hundreds of times in dozens of Chinese and U.S. cities. It is one of the most influential Chinese dramas for its witty dialogue.
Time: 8 p.m., Sept. 19; 3 p.m., Sept. 20
Tickets: 80-480 yuan
Venue: Pingshan Theater, Hekang Road, Pingshan District (坪山区荷康路坪山大剧院)
Transport: Take the high-speed rail from Futian Station or Shenzhen North Station to Pingshan Station and then take a taxi