Stage director Meng Jinghui and actress Huang Xiangli will join hands again to present the Chinese monodrama “Fox Angel” in Shenzhen.
Comprising five stories, “Fox Angel” uses texts by Julio Cortazar, Peter Handke, Bertolt Brecht and Rainer Maria Rilke as resources.
Hailed as “queen of mondrama” in China, Huang has starred in three monodramas — “Bonjour Tristesse,” “Letter From an Unknown Woman” and “Nine and a Half Love” — all directed by Meng. In “Nine and a Half Love,” Huang plays 15 roles; in “Letter From an Unknown Woman,” she incisively and vividly presents inextricable sweetness, hurt and torture; and in “Bonjour Tristesse,” she uses her expressive body language to tap into the character’s inner mind.
Huang Xiangli in “Fox Angel.” Photos from Meng’s studio’s WeChat account
In Meng’s monodramas, there are neat visual effects decorating the geometric and three-dimensional stage, meeting the needs of aesthetic imagination.
As the most acclaimed Chinese experimental theater director, Meng is known for his iconoclastic works, which are highly influential among young Chinese stage professionals and audience members. He is well known for his creative and versatile artistry, which has opened up new aspects of contemporary Chinese theater. He has created over 40 works since the 1990s, and the emergence of each one has been met with strong responses.
Meng’s well-known works include “Rhinoceros in Love,” “Amber” and “The Life Attitude of Two Dogs.” He is a director at the National Theater of China and artistic director of the Beijing International Fringe Festival and Beijing Beehive Theater. Having a high international profile, Meng has had his works performed at many international arts festivals. In 2013, he co-founded the Wuzhen Theater Festival with Chen Xianghong, Huang Lei and Stan Lai.
Time: 8 p.m., Jan. 22-23; 2:30 p.m., Jan. 24
Tickets: 100-380 yuan
Booking: WeChat miniapp “大麦” or “猫眼”
Venue: Children’s Palace, Futian District (福田区深圳市少年宫)
Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit B