The China National Theatre (CNT) will premiere The Greenhouse Girl in the smaller space of their new theatre.
The Greenhouse Girl is a realistic play about a young Chinese couple in the 1990s. Lin Zhi'an and Luo Wei were college classmates. After marrying, they faced all kinds of problems, such as pressure from their jobs and failure to trust each other. Luo leaves Lin. One day, by chance they meet on the street. Remembering the days of the past, they are determined to start a new life with honesty.
Wu Xiaodong, director of the play, said that the name of the play was taken from a song called "The Greenhouse Girl" by Cui Jian, a Chinese rock singer. The lyrics of the song, "You say I'm the strongest man in the world; I say you are the kindest woman in the world" inspired the playwright Peng Tao to write a play about the search for innocence in the modern society.
"Though the play is mainly for younger audiences, it may also attract a wider audience range. . .the play . . . is very close to everyday lives of ordinary people," said Lin Kehuan, the director of CNT and a well-known critic, "Young audiences will surely enjoy the call-a-spade-a-spade style, and will be touched by the passions built in the play."
China National Theatre, formerly called China Youth Arts Theatre, is one of the three theatres in China which is run by the state. It boasts the highest artistic level of modern drama. However, the theatre has not produced any influential plays in recent years, since their home theater in downtown Beijing was pulled down to construct an office building. They now rent an old theater which belongs to China Aerospace Industry Corp. Greenhouse Girl will be the first play in this new venue since it's renovation. Greenhouse Girl stars five young actors and actresses, Wang JinSong, Wang WeiGuo, He Yu, Zhang Yan and Lu Jing.
Greenhouse Girl will be performed 7:15 PM, March 20-April 12 (one day's rest after every four performances) , at China Youth Art Theatre, 67 Jiaodokou Nandajie, Beijbingmasi, Dongcheng District. For tickets call 64013322, ext 5022/5024.
-- By Wang Ling
China Correspondent
