By love-89.com On the evening of October 13th, the Zhejiang Drama Troupe showcased one of its standout productions, “Searching for Her Traces: Eileen Chang,” at the Beijing Comedy Theatre as part of their five-year anniversary celebration. This stage work, inspired by the legendary writer Eileen Chang, employs an intricate narrative structure that beautifully weaves through time to tell the story of her life.
The play, written by Lin Weiran and Wang Renfan, and directed by Li Bonan and Liu Hao, takes a unique approach in portraying both the protagonist and Eileen Chang’s life. It draws from three of Chang’s most representative works—”Half a Lifetime,” “Red Rose and White Rose,” and “Little Reunion.” By integrating the key characters and plots from these narratives, the drama explores Chang’s tumultuous life filled with love and heartbreak through the stories of her iconic characters, Gu Manzhen, Wang Jiaorui, and Jiuli.
As the curtain rises, the stage is divided into three distinct timeframes: one side reflects Shanghai in 1943, where Chang’s close friend Yan Ying discusses Chang’s personality with her brother, revealing their deep bond. The other side portrays an American apartment in 1994, the year before Chang’s passing, where a devoted fan seeks remnants of the reclusive writer’s life. At the center is a live broadcast in 2020, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Chang’s birth, where fans alternately laugh and cry, sharing their personal stories while chasing after Chang’s legacy.
This drama spans nearly eighty years, using these three temporal perspectives to deeply explore Chang’s life and literary achievements. The fluid transitions between time periods create an artistic tapestry that highlights both simplicity and complexity, allowing the audience to experience Eileen Chang and the rich meanings embedded in her works in new and engaging ways.
Wang He, a young actress from the Zhejiang Drama Troupe who plays Eileen Chang, shared that to authentically portray her character, she immersed herself in literature about Chang and the female characters in her novels, including those adapted into films and plays, while integrating her own interpretations.
The Zhejiang Drama Troupe also presented another humanistic play, “Thinking of Disgrace: Lu Xiaoman,” for the Beijing audience. Jiang Ning, the deputy general manager of the Zhejiang Drama Troupe, emphasized that these productions not only showcase the awakening of female thought but also redefine women’s societal status. Looking ahead, the troupe is committed to enriching local culture and creating more high-quality theatrical works for their audience.