English becomes a Chinese puzzle

• Source: Global Times
• [09:46 August 24 2010]
• Comments

When Lin first staged the play in Chinese last year it was the first time that Sleuth had been translated into Chinese. The language, which is a key part of the English play, posed a serious problem for both the director and performers.

"I first had the play translated into Chinese by a professional translator, and then I went through it, polishing the language of the Chinese script word by word," said Lin who is one of the most promising young theater directors in China. The development of the plot depends completely on the conversations between the two main protagonists.

"We have made great efforts to make the humor and subtleties understood by Chinese audiences while keeping the original flavor of the English text," Lin said.

The stage setting for the original play included some quintessentially British props and the upcoming production is changing the staging from last year's season.

"Last time I put some of my own ideas into the design and scenery but this time the stage will be as close to the London production as possible, more British and more detailed," said the director who has become famous for productions of Agatha Christie plays including The Mousetrap and And Then There Were None.

The Chinese Sleuth will also challenge the two leading performers. Zhou Yemang as Andrew Wyke has to play a game of snooker and pot all balls without a single miss. Then Jia Jinghui, as Milo Tindle, at one stage will don a ballet tutu and perform a dance from the Swan Lake.

"For this new season of the play the performers have a better understanding of the work," Lin said. "We'll present this with the flavor of a real English country manor."

Date: From Thursday to September 5, 7:30 pm, (closed on Monday)

Venue: Shanghai Drama Art Center

上海戏剧艺术中心

Address: 288 Anfu Road

安福路288号

Tickets: 80 to 200 yuan

Call 6473-0123 or 6473-4567 for details