Pop Star and Gorilla, the first absurd musical drama ever produced in China, will be presented by The Youth Theatre Company of Shanghai Spoken Drama Arts Center, during the ongoing Shanghai International Arts Festival.

Written by Yaomin Zhao, the fantastic plot goes like this -- Dangna Ma, a pop star singer, had made a will to donate his organs to animals before his life was deprived of them by a terrible traffic accident. Therefore, his brain was transplanted into the head of Snow Queen, a lovely gorilla who was suffering a severe cerebral concussion. Several days later, the gorilla was able to speak and sing beautiful songs in the zoo. It caused a big stir to all for they recognized those were songs of Dangna Ma. One day, the gorilla was secretly released by Angel, daughter of the zoo keeper who used to be Ma's fan. Ma came back to his home as a gorilla, only to find that he was rejected and even betrayed by his wife, his broker and his fans...Will he be accepted again by the society? How would he deal with this plight?

Starring a famous actor Mang Ye, Pop Star and Gorilla is directed by Yuanwei Xiong. The play had been performed in universities this March, and received great popularity. Public performances have been highly acclaimed both by audience and by critics. It will be one of the most expected plays to be performed at Shanghai International Arts Festival (May 2-May 31).

Pop Star and Gorilla will run at 7:15 PM from May 11-15, at the Experimental Theater of Shanghai Theatre Academy. For tickets call 021-62173055.

--By Wang Ling
China Correspondent