Opera Review: The Bat Makes 'Em Laugh

Johann Strauss, Jr.’s much-adored comedy Die Fledermaus opens at the NCPA tonight, and it promises to be one of those shows the world will be talking about for years to come. For one thing, this is the first time the operetta’s ever been reworked in Chinese. Lawless worked with Chen to help rewrite the script playing to local humor, including Chinese puns and cultural references.

Meanwhile, the arias are still sung (with much gusto, I might add) in German, and the entire play will include English and Chinese subtitles. In the setting of the NCPA - as it continues its efforts to hurtle itself into a bright and global future - one might argue that a show like this could only happen in this modern context.

We were in the audience the night the show previewed for media and friends and family of the performers, and the energy of both the performers and the crowd was contagious.

For some background, the operetta is about an elaborate hoax staged by Dr. Falke against the spoiled Eisenstein, in revenge for leaving Falke drunk and dressed as a bat in public the year before. None of the surrounding characters – Eisenstein's not-so-faithful wife, his hooky-playing maid, his greedy inept lawyer, and his wife’s hapless lover – have too many redeeming qualities either, making the whole thing one big fat farce.

I’ll admit, I didn’t get every single joke, but I was impressed at how funny – and just plain fun – the whole show was. In the past, I’ve heard complaints that operas staged at the NCPA can be mechanical, too exact. So this time, it was refreshing to see the performers hamming it up.

Of course, it being a preview performance, there were still quite a few kinks to work out. Set changes tended to lurch from scene to scene (though the colorful angled design charmed) and several of the comedic scenes that relied on impeccable timing needed tightening. There was also some trouble with the subtitling.

These are the sorts of things that should easily be ironed out by the opening show. Just a little polishing, and what we saw on Wednesday should become a truly delightful (and completely original) theater experience in Beijing.

Especially the third act. When Chen Peisi takes to the stage, he’s absolutely brilliant. Lawless confided to us that of the several "Die Fledermaus" productions he’s directed, Chen is the best Frosch he’s ever worked with. The drunken jailer’s role has grown through the years as he’s become more of a scene-stealing comedic staple leading up to the play’s climax, and Chen’s physical approach to humor really delivers. Adele, Eisenstein’s maid, is also especially fun to watch.

Overall, the show’s a great time, and an excellent opportunity to experience a truly cosmopolitan theater event for the 21st century here in Beijing.

Die Fledermaus takes flight at the NCPA tonight (Jun 3), and will show through Monday night (Jun 6). Book your tickets here. RMB 160-680. 7.30pm. NCPA Opera House (6655 0000)

Images from the NCPA.