(22 Nov 2001) SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot Taiwan actors performing at the stage of Beijing Chang'an Grand theater
2. Medium shot actors performing cross talkers on the stage, the left one making laugh to the right one
3. Wide shot stage
4. Audience
5. Close up Taiwan actor Jin Shi Qiang laughing like a horse
6. Close up Taiwan actor Zhao Zhi Qiang saying "Why are you laughing like a horse?"
7. Medium shot Stan Lai at the rehearsal site
8. Close up drama script in Lai's hands
9. Soundbite(Mandarin): Stan Lai, director of 'Millennium Teahouse' : "Culture exchanges can be a very important bridge in the relations across Taiwan strait. Our actors on the stage will feel very close with the mainland audience in the theatre through our performances on the stage in an artistic atmosphere."
10. Soundbite(Mandarin): Jin Shi Qiang, actor in 'Millennium Teahouse': "In the three areas, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the mainland, the cultures are different. When people from the three places perform in a play, there will be culture clashes among the actors who are curious about each other's style of performance, such as the way handling each scene of the play."
11. Wide shot performance on the stage
12. Medium shot stage, a prince of Qing Dynasty complaining about the deterioration of his power
13. Close up zoom out to medium wide the prince of Qing Dynasty complaining about the deterioration of his power
14. Wide shot end of the show
TEAHOUSE CHAT MAKES CHINA GIGGLE
For the first time a troop of Taiwanese performers have brought their unique sense of humour to theatre audiences in Beijing with a play entitled 'Millennium Teahouse.'
The production at the Chang'an Grand theatre opened to packed audiences in the capital. It presents a light hearted look at Chinese history and the social changes which have occurred from ancient times to emergence of modern China.
The performance steers clear of sensitive political issues but plays heavily on social satire.
Stan Lai from Taiwan, whose works have been described as "the most exciting theatre in the Chinese-speaking world" by the Far Eastern Economic Review, is the director and writer.
Mr. Lai and his actors all believe wholeheartedly in cultural diplomacy. They say that the exchanges between the divided nations of Taiwan and China form a bridge between people separated by decades of hostility.
"Culture exchanges can be a very important bridge in the relations across Taiwan strait. Our actors on the stage will feel very close with the mainland audience in the theatre through our performances on the stage in an artistic atmosphere," said Lai.
Lai is noted for have created a new art form called 'Xiang-sheng Drama'. It fuses theatrical drama with the traditional Chinese folk art of 'Xiang-sheng,' a conversation between two or more men, aiming at making people laugh. More importantly, the humour always contains satire on social issues.
The story of 'Millennium Teahouse' starts in the late Qing Dynasty, when China was being invaded by the Western Powers. But as the talk show goes on in an old teahouse, many controversial social issues of modern society are commented upon.
The drama will be also on show in Shanghai from December 6 to 9.
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