From March 14th to 17th, the stage play "Someone to Talk to", produced by the Drum Tower West Theater and staged at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), was directed by Mou Sen and adapted from the eponymous novel by the renowned writer Liu Zhenyun, winner of the Mao Dun Literature Award. Six years ago, the play premiered nationwide at the NCPA. Six years later, actor Li Guangjie from Henan was invited to star in this drama performed in Henan dialect. After continuous refinement and improvement, the entire work presented on stage in a more steady and refined state.
On the opening night of this round, Liu Zhenyun specially rushed to the scene. During the curtain call, he took the stage and shared with the audience: " 'Someone to Talk to' speaks of a group of people who don't like to talk. The words they say don't take up space in life. These words are held in their stomachs and become their concerns. Ninety-nine percent of people in life also don't take up space when they speak. So, when thousands of people walk on the streets, it becomes thousands of concerns. Thousands of concerns will form a torrent, and a silent torrent will change the audible world."
The novel "Someone to Talk to" was published in 2009. It won the 8th Mao Dun Literature Award and several other awards. Translated into over 20 languages, the book contains hundreds of characters and spans seventy years, making it voluminous and structurally intricate. It was once praised by critics as the Chinese version of "One Hundred Years of Solitude". However, Liu Zhenyun believes, "My work is not 'magical realism' but 'realistic magicism'—it seems like it's all about reality, but the implication conveyed by the work is magical."
Since the national premiere of the play in 2018 until now, the director Mou Sen still frequently reads this book. Even at the bedside of his mother before her passing, he continued reading the book. Each reading brings new discoveries and feelings. After dozens of times, he has become even more convinced and reinforced his initial feeling: "The earth may grow old, the mountains high, and the waters long."
"Someone to Talk to" stage setting is extremely simple yet grand. Both the sky and the earth are composed of the most primitive natural elements. The scenic designer, Shen Li, stated: the vast sky symbolizes the generosity and roughness of the Central Plains region, under the vast sky, everything appears tiny; the undulating earth, with its winding roads, makes people feel like lost lambs, passing through one crossroads after another; the wheat fields between heaven and earth represent the hope of people searching for light in the darkness, also symbolizing the gift of nature. The play does not feature significant historical events or figures; instead, it portrays the complex and diverse lives and emotions of ordinary people, much like grains of sand. Over 40 characters in the play are portrayed by 15 actors, all of whom imbue their roles with profound emotions, conveying the loneliness and longing deep within each person's heart. They vividly depict the survival landscape of the Chinese people, from tofu sellers and pig butchers to barbers and missionaries.
Director Mou Sen regards this work as a "super Chinese social epic." He captures the essence of Liu Zhenyun's seemingly plain yet profoundly insightful language style, which frequently delivers heart-striking lines. Mou Sen employs a rustic demeanor and a grand perspective, aligning with the spirit of the original work, to create an inherent tension. Each character on stage is portrayed with richness and vitality, resonating deeply with the audience. To navigate through the complexity of numerous characters and intertwined storylines, he chooses a narrative style primarily driven by singing, incorporating narration, choir, and soliloquy. The entire performance possesses a musical structure. Mou Sen describes it as, "The actors on stage resemble a symphony orchestra, with various instruments. For instance, the elderly Cao Qing'e might be likened to a cello, while Pastor Lao Zhan could be compared to brass instruments. Different tones compose the torrent of emotions." Amidst the clamor of life, there's an overarching philosophical contemplation that's difficult to articulate. Each individual's suffering and quest, when met with understanding and empathy from others, imbues a sense of "arrival" and "rescue."
Lead actor Li Guangjie first read "Someone to Talk to" in 2009 when the novel was newly published. Being from Henan himself, he felt an especially strong connection to everything depicted in the novel. "After a couple of years, when I read it again, the regional aspect gradually faded away. I realized it's not just a story about my hometown but a tale of the entire Chinese land. It's not just a story of people from Henan but the story of every Chinese person." After being invited to portray the character Yang Baishun, Li Guangjie revisited the novel and found that with age, experience, and changes in mindset, he gained deeper insights into both the work and life itself. He greatly admires the character Yang Baishun, feeling that despite enduring numerous manipulations and persecutions, he still maintains kindness. "This kindness possesses a powerful force, like a sturdy armor that helps him withstand all injustice and harm."
This round of the play's performance at the NCPA marks both a return and a new beginning. It will kick off a nationwide tour alongside "I Did Not Kill My Husband" and "One Day, Three Autumns," forming the "Liu Zhenyun Stage Works Trilogy."
Translator: BAI Jing
Reviewer: WEN Min
