Marry Me

Source: Shanghai Daily (12/4/15)
Passions, commitments collide in marriage drama
By Nie Xin

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“MARRY Me,” an original Chinese stage drama, is now playing at the Jasmine Flower Theater through Sunday.

The play focuses on the trials and tribulations of three young couples, with ample doses of drama and suspense interspersed with observations about love and relationships.

According to writer and director Ding Jianfei, the play is meant to be a sympathetic portrayal of modern marriage in China.

“Our generation, the post-1980s generation, is stepping into marriage. Some of us get married blindly or unwillingly,” said Ding. “We don’t really know the meaning of love or the truth of marriage. Sometimes couples… end up hiding themselves.”

One of the play’s story lines centers on the characters Zhao and Luo, a seemingly perfect couple. Their relationship is put to the test though when Zhao meets a charming young woman named Gu. Meanwhile, Zhao’s wife, Luo, finds herself strangely drawn to the tempestuous Du. Before long, Zhao is thinking about running away with Gu, as Luo dreams of making Du her own.

Conflict arises as the newly-found passions of Zhao and Luo run up against their shared sense of responsibility and commitment. As their anniversary approaches, can the “perfect couple” find a solution to their tangled predicament?

“When we talk about marriage, what do we talk about?” asks Zhao Xuan rhetorically as he discusses the show’s themes. Zhao is the producer of “Marry Me,” and plays the character of the same name. “Do vows of permanence really create deep bonds between a man and a woman? Will sweetness and desire perish from mundane married life?”

An earlier version of “Marry Me” was performed at the Wuzhen Festival in October, where it won a Special Attention Award.

Date: Through Deccember 6, 9:30pm
Venue: Jasmine Flower Theater (2/F, 251 Beihai Rd)
Tickets: 180-280 yuan (50 yuan for the second ticket)
Tel: 400-610-3721

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