William Shakespeare's famous play Hamlet has been given a Peking Opera makeover. The Shanghai Peking Opera Theater is producing the adaptation under the name The Revenge of the Prince.

Hamlet Sommer, an organization that sponsors cultural events in Denmark, invited the troupe to perform the unique version of the play from August 1-5 at the Kronborg Castle in Helsingor.

"The Hamlet story in various versions has been staged in Denmark -- the hometown of Hamlet -- many times," said Vibeke Normann, a Hamlet Sommer representative, at a workshop in Shanghai with the play's director and actors Friday.

"However, with the recommendation of Zhen Jianguo, China's ambassador to Denmark, it is the first time Danish people will enjoy Shakespeare's masterpiece, while understanding the unique and fascinating charm of this old oriental art."

According to director Shi Yukun, the script maintains the tragic soul of the original play. Still changes were made. The Peking Opera version is set in ancient China.

"Peking Opera has its own language to depict the story," Shi said. "Although we keep famous lines such as 'To be or not to be, that is the question,' the dialogue was condensed to create more time for singing, dancing, acrobatics and martial arts."

Before the troupe leaves for Denmark the play will be shown in Shanghai with English subtitles.

(Shanghai Daily May 30, 2005)