A scene from Chinese musical “No Longer Human.” File photos
The Chinese musical “No Longer Human” based on its namesake novel by Japanese author Osamu Dazai will grace Shenzhen Poly Theater in August.
The Japanese author’s last complete work before he committed suicide in 1948, the semi-autobiographical work depicts much of Dazai’s own life through the eyes of the main character, Oba Yozo, from his failed attempts of finding love in relationships to his personal struggles and the momentary bits of tenderness in his life. Interspersed with examinations of society and culture, the work is deep, painful, real and so human. Having sold more than 10 million copies in Asia, this book that captures the loneliness and inner struggles of a young adult is still relevant in today’s society, as many can relate to the visceral feelings of “otherness” described by Yozo.
Produced by the Ranspace workshop and premiered last year, the musical is a collaborative effort of top talents from home and abroad and is rated 8.1 points out of 10 on Douban, the Chinese equivalent of Rotten Tomatoes.
The show casts in the leading roles Chinese pop singer and actor Bai Jugang, and one of the most popular musical actors in China today, Liam Liu. Joining the cast are young talents Li Weiling, Zhang Weilun and Zhang Qindan.
Broadway composer and producer Frank Wildhorn, who was nominated for Tony Awards and the Grammys several times and best known for his musical “Jekyll & Hyde,” was hired to compose the music for this production, marking the first time he has composed for a Chinese musical.
The stage set was designed by Leslie Travers, an award-winning set and costume designer based in London. His extensive work, including opera, dance, musical and drama productions, has graced the world’s most prestigious stages. He designed a modern and simplistic set using impressive images, which creates a tension and blurs the boundaries between the real and psychological worlds as perceived by the characters.
Japanese director, choreographer and performer Ney Hasegawa, who works with a keen sense of visual presentation, collaborated with his Chinese counterpart Xu Chongye to come up with creative choreography for the show. Chen Zhuohua, a Chinese talent with years of experience in theater, provided its lighting design.
Time: 7:30 p.m., Aug. 26-27
Tickets: 280-1.280 yuan
Booking: WeChat account “SZpolytheatre”
Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, Nanshan District (南山区深圳保利剧院)
Metro: Line 2 or 11 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit E