介绍:
The rise and fall of the short-lived but legendary Qin Dynasty is a vast source of arts and entertainment in China.
Live variety shows are available to the tens of thousands of tourists visiting the relics of the empire's capital in northwest China's Shaanxi Province everyday. Now people can enjoy an equally colorful performance in a theater in Beijing's CBD area.
Director and producer Dennis Law is characterising the show, which is simply named Terracotta Warriors, as an "action musical".
(Dennis Law, Male Mandarin)
"Chinese audiences are more familiar with a show with rich dance movements. This is the reason I created such an action-musical. We will not succeed if we simply copy the Broadway. So I think we made a show that will work to the audiences and performers with a solid understanding of Chinese culture and history."
(Clip from the show)
It is not a typical Broadway musical indeed. With fewer lines and arias and more dance movements, it is more like a dance filled drama. It also incorporates several traditional Chinese stage performances including martial arts and acrobatics.
Music supervisor Jin Tao says the show is internationalized enough to attract both domestic and foreign viewers.
(Jin Tao, Male Mandarin)
"Drum is symbolic in Chinese culture. You may hear all sorts of drums played in the show. You can feel the chemistry of combing traditional Chinese elements with a symphonic score. So I think it will work for both Chinese and foreign audience."
(Backsound)
Apart from traditional Chinese elements, the symphonic score is also blended with futuristic musical style accompanied by rich sound effects.
Director and producer Dennis Law says the show is mainly targeting tourists. He adds he does not have the ambition of selling or promoting this show overseas.
(Dennis Law, Male Mandarin)
"Only a small part of highly-educated foreign people may consider coming to theater to watch this show. Most people, with no bias against China at all, simply won't come because they have very little knowledge about Chinese culture. People who come here at least have a basic understanding of Chinese culture. This is the group of audience we are targeting."
Law is a retired surgeon who in fact has a rich experience in the show business.
He tapped into this business back in 1996 with a family feature film collaborating with MGM and Warner Brothers.
Law is also the producer of a prize-winning children's film and an acclaimed TV series in China.
Several of his musical works have been portrayed on stage in North America nearly a thousand times. Some of them have received international awards.
But this time the fact that he wants to particularly target foreign tourists in Beijing reflects his understanding of this business.
(Dennis Law, Male Mandarin)
"What musicals are all about? They are not just singing and dancing. They should be capable to make people come to see and make money everyday. I personally want to uphold art standards, but I believe upholding art standards cannot come in with the cost of losing the value of entertainment."
For Law, he's chosing not to copy the Broadway model and instead will attempt to showcase the musical in a way that's best suited for Chinese audiences and the local market.
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