Staging sincerity

Tong Daoming made his name in the late-1980s when he founded the Nanjing Small Theater Festival and vigorously injected innovative ideas characterized by pioneering works.

Known for his candid and insightful observations as a theater critic, the 79-year-old has denounced the current drama scene for its like-minded, uncreative works and plentiful commercial shows staged with the sole purpose of boosting ticket sales.

Cherishing his memories of the theater scene 30 years ago when it featured influential works exploring the spiritual world and reality, Tong has penned his own plays since 2006. With five plays to his credit, three of which will be staged at the Penghao Theater from tomorrow, he has made it his mission to return sincerity and charisma to the stage.

The Tong Daoming Theater Performance Season, which runs until September 23, will stage his plays centering on the life, integrity and lofty ideals of China's intellectuals.

"It should be common practice for theaters to combine the functions of literature, rationale and the power of thinking together. But now the current theatrical scene is largely seen as a means of entertainment, becoming vulgar and utilitarian," said Wang Xiang, artistic director at the Penghao Theater. "That is why we would like to stage works that are more humanistic and meaningful."

Playwright Ren Ming Young noted Tong's plays appear to be "alien" to the current scene, but said their defining "heart and soul" offered plenty of value to theatergoers.

"I can always feel a sense of sincerity whenever I read his scripts or watch his plays. The sincerity comes from the merit of the old generation of Chinese intellectuals known for their integrity and kindness," said Ren, who is directing When You Look Back for the season.

The Bust of a Lady by the Seine, named after the namesake sculpture Chinese modernist poet Feng Zhi (1905-1993) bought in 1936 in Berlin, is another play making its mark during the season. The play is a retrospect of Feng's life and his beliefs as an outstanding intellectual.

When You Look Back brings together Chinese writers Ba Jin (1904-2005) and Cao Yu (1910-1996), Russian writer Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) and even Christian messiah Jesus to discuss their lives, deaths and reflections on themselves at later stages of their lives.

Where Does the Sound of Singing Come From? directed by Zhang Ziyi centers its story on a young researcher who struggles to grapple with fame, power and his morals in order to strive for a higher title at his institute.

"Tong's concern for the intellectuals' circumstances and the depiction of their lives shows humanistic care. He questions individuals' dignity and value, yet cherishes his everlasting longing for a perfect personality," explained Ren.

Despite Tong's honed skills in language and profound literary knowledge, his works might not appeal to all young theatergoers, noted Ren, who deemed another of Tong's plays, I'm a Seagull, about the life of Russian author Anton Chekhov (1860-1904), as holding a strong sense of "preaching and nostalgia."

"Like a lot of Chinese writers of his generation, Tong tends to use a lot of euphemistic and indirect expressions and borrow citations from other literary figures. This could seem old-fashioned to some audiences," said Ren, who nonetheless remains confident that those interested in literature will be lured to Tong's plays.

When: 7:30 pm, August 29-September 23

Where: 35 Dongmianhua Hutong, Jiaodaokou Nandajie, Dongcheng district

Tickets: 60 yuan (students), 100 yuan (presale), 120 yuan (door)

Contact: 6400-6472