Chinese version 'Mamma Mia' premieres in Shanghai
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Xinhua, July 9, 2011
The Chinese version of classic musical "Mamma Mia" premiered at the Shanghai Grand Theater Friday night and received five curtain calls.
The Chinese version, translated from the English version, maintains the original flavor of the stage musical, written by British playwright Catherine Johnson, based of the songs of ABBA band, a Swedish pop group formed in 1972.
More than 20 songs of the ABBA band have been re-interpreted for the new version. Observers said the Chinese libretto matches the songs well and that the actors gave passionate performances.
Audience members commented that the show was "the most authentic musical experience."
Actress Tian Shui, past winner of a Meihua (plum flower) Award, China's highest prize for drama, stars as the mother. Chang Fangyu plays the daughter Sophie, and Tseng Huicheng plays the father Sam -- both are from Taiwan.
The drama integrates Chinese elements with the Greek island style over the two-and-a-half hour performance. It also combines the musical's original jokes with contemporary online vernacular as well as Chinese dialects.
Conducted by the original performance team, the Chinese version is trying to explore a new way to industrialize China's local music and bring it to the global drama market, said Teng Junjie, executive producer of Mamma Mia.
The first season of Mamma Mia will run until the end of November, during which it is expected to be performed 200 times at the Shanghai Grand Theater, Beijing Century Theater and Guangzhou Grand Theater in China's southern city of Guangzhou.
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