"Five Acts of Life", created and directed by Lin Zhaohua in 2010, allowed audiences to experience the charm of five short stories by Lao She within a single play. Recently, the 2024 edition of "Five Acts of Life" premiered at the Lao She Theater. Under the direction of Lin Xi, son of Lin Zhaohua and a director at the National Theatre of China, the production reinterprets the classic literary works of Lao She from a modern perspective.

"Five Acts of Life" 2024 edition is led by Wang Jinsong and Jia Yanpeng, with actors including Xiao Xianpeng, Lu Wei, Wang Yiwei, and Yu Bo. The play continues to feature the five classic short stories selected by Shu Yi: "The Courtyard of the Liu Family", "It's Also a Triangle", "Broken Soul Gun", "Taking Office", and "The Rabbit." Each story in the play portrays the grassroots life of Beijing commoners, reflecting Lao She's concern for the lower-class society and ordinary people's lives. Bringing these five short stories back to the stage, the creative team enters Lao She's literary world from a modern perspective. They not only present the simple and natural linguistic charm of Lao She but also showcase his wise criticism and profound reflection through multiple perspectives on ordinary life stories.

It is reported that the 2024 edition of "Five Acts of Life" is a high-quality creative project under the "Great Beijing Theater" artistic creation incubation platform of the Beijing Federation of Literary & Art Circles, planned and led by the federation in collaboration with the Beijing Tianqiao Zenith Group. The production is also one of the series of activities commemorating the 125th anniversary of Lao She's birth. After its trial performance at the Lao She Theater, from March 20th to 23rd, the 2024 edition of "Five Acts of Life" will officially premiere at theNational Center for the Performing Arts's Mini Theatre and then embark on a national tour.

Translator: BAI Jing

Reviewer: BAI Jing