Another one of the most significant figures of 20th-century Chinese literature is the late Chinese novelist and dramatist Lao She. His works have been translated into different languages and adapted onto screens both big and small.

Photo taken on Oct. 30, 2010 shows the premiere of Lao She's stage play Four Generations Under One Roof at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. The stage play, written by Lao She and directed by Tian Qinxin, was premiered in Taipei on October 30, 2010.

Recently a drama based on one of Lao She's well-known works, Four Generations Under One Roof, premiered at the Sun-Yat Sen Memorial Hall in Taiwan.

The play unites multiple generations of artists under the direction of Tian Qinxin. And more than thirty minutes before the show began, the theatre was near capacity with an audience of almost four thousand.

The audience members gave a warm applause once actor Sun Honglei, who portrays a story-teller in the drama, stepped onto the stage.

Four Generations Under One Roof describes the ups and downs of a Chinese family during the Japanese occupation in the 1940s. The more than three hour show triggered enthusiastic response from the packed house.

A Taiwan audience member said, "All the performers have done a wonderful job! This is my first time ever watching a performing troupe from the mainland. I hope more will come with new productions."

"This drama is based on Lao She's masterpiece of 850-thousand Chinese characters. Actors must have put a lot of effort in memorizing lines. They were so into the show, which touched me deeply," said an audience.

Qin Hailu, actress, said, "We were greatly impressed by the enthusiastic response from the Taiwan audience."

Tian Qinxin, director, said, "We won an unanimous applause from the packed house at the curtain call. It was very impressive."

Drama Four Generations Under One Roof will later tour major cities, including Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing.

Photo taken on Oct. 30, 2010 shows the premiere of Lao She's stage play Four Generations Under One Roof at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. The stage play, written by Lao She and directed by Tian Qinxin, was premiered in Taipei on October 30, 2010.

(CCTV.com, China.org.cn October 28, 2010)