Legendary opera artist sees his story in theaters

A theater production about the life story of the legendary Peking opera artist Mei Lanfang will be presented at BOCOM New Bund 31 Performing Arts Center on Oct 30-31.

Starring Bai Yongcheng, the play was premiered 30 years ago. "Never did I imagine that I would keep on performing the role for 30 years," the actor told the media on Sept 5.

The play was originally written by Ding Luonan and Wu Xiaojun, and premiered at Shanghai's Tianchan Yifu Theater in 1994. From 2006 to 2016. the play was revived and went on tour to Beijing and Hong Kong. Peking opera artist Mei Baojiu, also the son of Mei Lanfang, was the artistic director, with Gong Xiaoxiong rewrote the story as the playwright.

The continual vitality of the play lies in the great personality and legendary life experience of Mei Lanfang, the most celebrated Peking opera artist in China, Gong said. The play highlighted key figures that impacted the life of Mei Lanfang, such as his mentor, his wife, his best friend and harsh critic, as well as his colleague and lover Meng Xiaodong. The story focused on landmark events in the artist's life, such as his tour in the US in 1930, and his refusal to perform for the Japanese invaders from 1941 to 1945.

All the box office income for the upcoming performances will be donated to sponsor surgeries for children with congenital heart disease in the Golog Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Qinghai province.