A fascinating theater experience.

Having seen director Wang Chaoge's works like Impression Pingyao, Only Henan, and others, I was incredibly excited for the premiere of Dream of the Red Chamber at the end of September. The previous two works were stunning in their form, content, and technology. This time, Dream of the Red Chamber, with an investment of 800 million, incorporates elements of Redology, featuring three main theaters, several smaller theaters, and 108 garden scenes, making it even more highly anticipated. With a two-day pass, I saw the three main plays but didn't manage to see all the smaller ones. Here's a breakdown of the theaters I visited.

Three Main Theaters: Existence and Non-existence, Truth and Falsehood, and The Reader
I highly recommend Existence and Non-existence (which continues the visual spectacle of light and shadow cinema, blending dance and aesthetics. Surrounded by clouds and mist, passing through water curtains... all the beauty is in this theater, narrating the prophecies of the twelve women of Jinling).

Small Theater Guide
Dream of the Red Chamber is divided into 19 small theaters. Some were particularly touching, with a viewing experience surpassing the main plays. Others were a bit rushed, and I couldn't even remember what they were about after watching them. Only Henan gave me the impression that the main plays were better than the smaller ones, but with Dream of the Red Chamber, the small theaters felt incredibly refined, some even surpassing the main plays.

Highly Recommended: No. 35 Middle School, Courtyard House, and Supply and Marketing Cooperative No. 2. If you're short on time, definitely choose these three small plays, as they are exceptionally good.
1. Top Recommendation: No. 35 Middle School takes you back to your school days. Here, you are a high school student, experiencing realistic scenes of Chinese, math, and chemistry classes. There are class clowns interacting with you, teachers asking questions, and finally, a graduation scene on the playground. Lasting over an hour, it completely outshines the main plays.

Post by Nova_Skyfall_42 | Mar 3, 2025