MENG Jinghui Theatre Studio Bonjour Tristesse

Venue: Multi-functional Theatre

Dates: June 06-10, 2017

About

The monodrama Bonjour, Tristesse is an creative attempt to adapt and reconstruct the novel written by the French writer, Francoise Sagan, of the same name. In 1954, a bold 18-year-old girl wrote the so-called “immoral novel”, which unfolded every aspect of one’s youth in a simple language. With the sales record of 84 million books, this novel not only shocked French literary circle, but affected a whole French generation. Because of this novel, Sagan also became a youth icon in her time.

MENG Jinghui’s version of Bonjour, Tristesse has unfolded the girl’s sadness from the perspective of avantgarde aesthetics. He amplifies the protagonist’s complex psychological activities in a humorous and grotesque way, striving to reveal the rebellion of youth and the cruelty of love in the original work.

Synopsis

Cecile, who is romantic by nature, lives a free and absurd life with her libertine father, and is unwilling to lead her life on track. Hence, though her father Raymond has been a widower for many years, Cecile tries to stop him from marrying his girlfriend, Anna. In the eyes of Cecile, Anna is a decent, well-behaved gentle woman. Once Anna has become a family member, not only her father, Raymond, will be regulated, but Cecile’s unrestrained and unruly lifestyle will be changed, so that she will have to follow Anna’s training to be a good girl. Therefore, Cecilia comes up with a ruse with her new boyfriend and Elsa, a woman Raymond used to know. And the trick works.

Creative

MENG Jinghui Director

MENG Jinghui is the most influential experimental drama director with lofty fame in the Chinese drama circle. He founded Beijing Youth Theatre Festival in 2008 and has served as artistic director since then. He is director of National Theatre of China. As the famous Chinese drama director, MENG Jinghui puts his unique personalized creativity and diversified artistic style into full play. He not only writes a new chapter in contemporary Chinese drama, but also becomes a cultural phenomenon worthy of attention.

His direction includes Think of Worldly Pleasure, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Rhinoceros in Love, Head without Tail, Amber, In Illusion, Romantic Meeting, The Life Attitude of Two Dogs, Labyrinth and Magic Mountain, all of which have triggered strong responses so that Chinese experimental drama sublimes to the new aesthetics height. MENG also cultivates a large number of drama fans to infuse the energy into new diversification of Chinese drama stage. His film Chicken Poets is awarded with the FIPRESCI Critics Award of Hong Kong International Film Festival and Special Youth Jury Award of Locarno International Film Festival.

Source: National Centre for the Performing Arts