2011 Dec 02 Art Attack: Geeks, Leaks and Drama Freaks
It’s a good weekend for theater, with an NPR-approved drama about the NY Times and Washington Post facing off against the US Supreme Court over the Pentagon Papers, a liquor-lacquered take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet and then (oh, the extremes) a proper production of Handel’s Messiah by Beijing's International Festival Chorus.
There’s also a talk on Beijing’s crippled soul and the debut of independent filmmaker Lu Sheng’s stunning three-part film that explores life and longing in Paris, Shanghai and … a mysterious forest. Read on for the deets.
Remember the drama kids at your high school? The ones who were part weird, part cool and sometimes just plain scary? And the rumors that they all probably got a lot more mileage out of their teenage hormones than even the cheerleaders and football players? Well, those kids are back (even if some of them have never set foot on your typical American Pie campus). Only now, they’ve graduated from your decrepit school theater into the gaudy-couture velveteen décor of LAN Club. Yep, the folks at Wingspeak theater are putting on a production of Hamlet. And of course, some things never change – like the alcohol. Lots of it. Check out our post earlier this week for more details.
On a more serious note, a tale about airing the US government’s dirty laundry during the Vietnam war is hitting Beijing’s stages this weekend. Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers has Washington Post editor-in-chief Ben Bradlee, the newspaper’s publisher Kay Graham, and the likes of Henry Kissinger and former President Nixon battling it out over scandalous and highly sensitive information – way before Wikileaks even existed. Coming off its success on the radio (including NPR), L.A. Theatre Works have adapted this for this stage, and it's making its Beijing debut. This is a rare chance to enjoy world-class theater stripped of spectacle but high on acting and real drama. You can read more about it here. For tickets, call Ms. Yang Huiyuan (150 1130 1416) to reserve seats, then pick them up (and pay for them, of course) at the box office half an hour before each performance.
For a sacred Christmas tradition, catch the International Festival Chorus performing G.F. Handel's Messiah. More on this performance (with some thoughts from this year's guest conductor) here.
It's also a good week for nerds – of the Internet and film variety. On Saturday, catch a "Podcast Live" event at Capital M. Internet and China buffs Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn discuss Beijing's soul and how it might be slipping away.
Don't miss a chance to catch Chen Kaige's Yellow Earth on the big screen again. Maybe taking in the raw beauty of Zhang Yimou's cinematography will chase away the memories of all those bloated bosoms in Curse of the Golden Flower – if that's what you want, that is. Also playing: Strictly Ballroom and a new work by indie filmmaker Lu Sheng.
More event details:
Dec 1-4, 8-11
Comedy/Drama: Hamlet
Wacky, comic and highly unusual takes on two scenes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet by new group Wingspeak Theatre, with warm-up by Beijing Improv’s bilingual troupe. RMB 320/300 (door/presale, show + free drinks), RMB 170/150 (door/presale, show + two cocktails). 9pm. LAN Club (5109 6012)
Dec 2
Comedy: Cinderella
The British tradition of Panto brought to you by Beijing Playhouse. Also playing Dec 8-18 (see Ongoing). RMB 300/260 (door/advance), RMB 150/130 (students + children, door/advance). 7.30pm. British School of Beijing (8047 3588; see Living directory)
Dec 2-4
Docudrama: Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers
The American press and government duke it out over free speech and national security. RMB 80-200. 7pm. Peking University Hall (6275 1278)
Opera: Xi Shi
The legendary beauty sent to destroy a corrupt king with her charms gets the Western opera treatment. RMB 100-500. 7.30pm. NCPA (6655 0000)
Dec 2, 9, 17, 21
Film: Here, There
French-trained filmmaker Lu Sheng presents a quiet study of life and death set in Shanghai, Paris and a primeval forest. Q&A with director (Dec 9 only). RMB 40, RMB 30 (seniors, students), RMB 25 (BC100 member), RMB 20 (BC V1000 member). 7.30pm. BC MOMA (8438 8258)
Dec 3
Podcast Live: The Soul of Beijing
Kaiser Kuo, Jeremy Goldkorn and others discuss whether Beijing’s rapid change is sucking the city dry. RMB 65 (includes drink), RMB 20 (students). 4pm. Capital M (6702 2727)
Dec 4
Film: Yellow Earth
About as OG as Chinese indie film gets. RMB 40, RMB 30 (seniors, students), RMB 25 (BC100 members), RMB 20 (BC V1000 members). 4pm. BC MOMA (8438 8258)
Chorus: G.F. Handel’s Messiah
Get Biblical with the International Festival Chorus. Tickets: tickets@beijingifc.org or call 158 1046 2467. RMB 180-280. 7.30pm. International School of Beijing (8149 2345)
Dec 7
Film: Strictly Ballroom
Baz Luhrmann’s opening number for his “red curtain trilogy.” RMB 30 (includes coffee or tea). 7pm. Riverbank Bar and Café (6506 8277)
Orchestra: A Night At the Oscars
Take a ride through tinseltown. RMB 280- 1680. 7.30pm. Poly Theatre (6500 1188 ext 5126/5127)
Photos: Herecomestwo.wordpress.com and Holachina.net
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Hallelujah! Win Tickets to G. F. Handel's Messiah
Depending on your background, one of your holiday traditions may or may not involve walls of scripture being sung at you by a choir, in the form of Handel's Messiah. Heck, you might even have teetered on the edge of one of those risers yourself. Never mind whether you enjoyed that when you were 12 years old. Here's an opportunity to experience an intimate yet international take on the Christmas classic here in Beijing. Read on for your chance to win tickets to the show.
To Drink or Not to Drink: Win Tickets to Hamlet at LAN Club
When dealing with themes like murder, betrayal and insanity, isn’t it nice to have a drink in one’s hand, to sorta lighten things up a bit? This, perhaps, is why new theater group WingSpeak brings you Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Philippe Starck-ified LAN Club, with drinks included in the price of admission. And we're giving away tickets! Don’t worry, the cocktails aren’t some nefarious plot for breaking down the fourth wall, until you the audience are acting out that morbid final scene. Well, at least we hope not.
Epic Sounds for an Epic Night: Win Tickets to IFC’s 10th Anniversary Concert
The International Festival Chorus, Beijing’s only homegrown choir, has been giving us reasons to sing since 2002, with their choral-symphonic performances, fundraising concerts, outreach and education programs, and performance tours all around China. This Saturday night, they celebrate ten years with a rousing rendition of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.
Model Worker: Danwei Founder Jeremy Goldkorn
South African Jeremy Goldkorn came to Beijing via London in 1995 and has been working in media for virtually his entire time here. As the Managing Editor of Beijing Scene, the creator of Le Magazine (the progenitor to the Chinese version of Time Out) and the Launch Editor for Agenda’s sister magazine the Beijinger (then known as “that’s Beijing”), he helped pioneer Beijing’s English-language media scene before starting Danwei.com, the renowned website covering Chinese society, culture and media, in 2003.
Head to Agendabeijing.com to get Jeremy's insight on how Danwei took shape and what it has in store for 2012 and beyond.
Art Attack: Food Writers at Capital M, Valentine’s Music and Last Calls
Forgive me, I’ve been less on top of artsy news this week because I’ve been too busy trolling the internet at odd hours to keep up with this Jeremy Lin business. Yes, I am the world’s most intermittent basketball fan. But that’s beside the point. There are actually quite a few exciting things going on this week, like Capital M Literary Festival tickets going on sale, great indie films, a blind movie-watching experience and your last chance at several art exhibits! Click through for more.
