At the start of the New Year, the Cantonese version of The Top Restaurant, written by He Jiping and directed by Roy Szeto, created a sensation in Beijing. Now, another of their iconic collaborations, Deling And Cixi, has taken the stage at Beijing Poly Theatre.
Deling And Cixi was He Jiping's first play after becoming the resident playwright of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre and remains one of her most beloved works. The Cantonese version, directed by Ko Tin Lung, premiered in Hong Kong in 1998 to great acclaim, winning five major Hong Kong theater awards. In 2008, its debut performance in Beijing at the National Centre for the Performing Arts caused a stir. In 2019, the Mainland Chinese version of Deling And Cixi, directed by Roy Szeto, enjoyed sold-out performances in Beijing and Shanghai, solidifying its status as a modern classic of Chinese-language theater. In 2025, the play has returned with a new cast for a nationwide tour.
The play masterfully intertwines grandeur with delicate precision. While entertaining the audience with insights into history, it also retains the refined elegance characteristic of literary dramas. He Jiping draws inspiration from Yu Deling, a historical figure, and uses her unique perspective to unravel the twilight years of the Qing Dynasty. Raised abroad and fluent in multiple languages, the 17-year-old Deling enters the stage in a Western-style gown, becoming a bright beacon of modernity amidst the waning splendor of the Qing Empire. Like a lively bird flitting into the tightly guarded Forbidden City, she wins the trust of Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu with her intelligence, sincerity, and worldly knowledge, all while facing resentment and intrigue within the palace.
He's writing vividly portrays richly layered characters, blending imagination with a profound empathy for the human condition. Through the interplay of emotions and actions, the play not only delves into personal stories but also scrutinizes historical dynamics, cultural clashes between East and West, and reflections on China's past and future.
The intricate storytelling is filled with nuanced foreshadowing. The drama begins with Ronglu questioning Yu Geng's unusually long journey home, subtly introducing the reform movement's backdrop. These interconnected plot threads gradually converge into a dramatic climax centered on "national salvation and reform." The play challenges conventional perceptions of figures such as Cixi, Guangxu, and Li Lianying. Empress Dowager Cixi is portrayed not only as an authoritarian ruler but also as a woman curious about the world, yearning for equality, and longing for love. Similarly, Deling is not reduced to a romanticized figure of court dramas but is celebrated for her independence and integrity. The exchanges between Cixi, Deling, and Guangxu are at times warm and touching, and at other times sharp and tension-filled, creating a rich emotional and dramatic tapestry.
The set, lighting, costumes, and props in Deling And Cixi are meticulously crafted. Towering nanmu pillars, intricately designed dragon thrones, and exquisitely tailored costumes evoke the grandeur of the late Qing palace while also symbolizing the Forbidden City's oppressive confines. As Cixi remarks in one of her lines, "I am a prisoner taking on your burdens." Similarly, Emperor Guangxu, burdened by ancestral traditions, circles aimlessly around the stage's pillars, a vivid depiction of his entrapment. Subtle lighting transitions add layers of warmth and coolness, enhancing the dramatic mood. Beaded and gauze curtains create an aura of the inner palace while dividing the stage into distinct spaces. The sound effects, such as the echoing announcement of Deling's audience with the Empress Dowager, immerse the audience in the vastness of the Forbidden City.
In the 2019 production, a stellar cast, including celebrated performers such as Lisa Lu, Pu Cunxin, Jiang Shan, Zheng Yunlong, and Huang Huici, captivated audiences. To support then 94-year-old Lisa Lu, Jiang Shan attended every performance, regardless of her own participation, a dedication that greatly enhanced her artistry. In this new tour, Jiang's portrayal of Cixi has grown even more polished, balancing the Empress Dowager's imperious authority with her emotional depth. Her commanding low voice and melodious Beijing dialect evoke Lisa Lu's memorable performance.Newcomers Lang Ling and Xiao Yuliang, playing Deling and Guangxu respectively, demonstrate strong dedication, though their performances still require refinement to match the depth of their predecessors fully.
The play concludes with the deaths of Guangxu and Cixi, leaving the Qing Dynasty's path uncertain. Deling, clad in traditional Qing attire, stands alone on the desolate stage, searching. A shaft of light resembling the sun breaking through clouds illuminates her, symbolizing both a setting empire and the dawn of a new era. As He Jiping's lyrics for the play's theme song poetically express: "As the sunset fades, the dawn emerges bright."
Translator: FENG Haoxuan
Reviewer: BAI Jing
