Talking Entertainment: Your Weekend Guide to Arts

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is hitting Beijing's theaters today. We've been waiting a while on this one. The film's China screen date was delayed a month for fears it would compete in the box office with Skyfall, the latest James Bond flick. We remember that North American reviews of The Hobbit weren't so hot. Many critics complained the movie was difficult on the eyes and over-embellished. We'll see if Chinese audiences react any differently, but go watch for yourself.

You've probably noticed three big arts festivals revving their motors and humming to life in the capital. JUE Festival, The Bookworm Literary Festival, and Capital Literary Festival will be unfolding over the month of March. Tickets for events at the festivals are now on sale (click the links above for purchasing info) and you can follow our blog and events section for updates and details about the participating artists and acts.

Before we get too excited about the festivities, there are some great shows on in town over the next week. Let’s take a look below:

  • The NCPA’s production of Carmen’s Opera, has been getting rave reviews worldwide. The show, which tells the heartbreaking story of an optimistic Gipsy girl, has returned home and will be on stage every evening until next Thursday.
  • The Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra will be making its first appearance in China with leading soloist and conductor Kirill Troussov at the helm. The concert, which draws on a unique combination of baroque and Tango styles, will include pieces by Mozart and Vivaldi. The orchestra is in town for only one night on February 28 at NCPA.
  • Beijing Improv is making a comeback after the holiday with a show at Penghao Theater on Saturday night. Expect a lot of serpent jokes to ring in the Year of the Snake and the usual tricks and games from this flock of local comedians.
  • Zajia Lab has announced that the improv session they scheduled for tonight has been replaced by a performance by the Nadading Mime Troupe, who claim they are Beijing’s only group of mimes. Their show will followed by a concert by the Georgetown Chambers, a new local rock group.
  • A new art exhibition opened this week. “Suspended Time” a collection of natural landscapes offers a nice visual breather from the city scenes we’re so accustomed to. The same exhibition will run until June simultaneously at Catherine de France and Montpelier.

Watch this funny video of Beijing Improv’s Halloween 2011 show. I wonder what they have in store for the Year of the Snake?

Photo: Life123