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Looking West to Chang'an (Xi Wang Chang'an) was written by Lao She (1899-1966) and is directed by Lou Naiming at the Poly Theater in Beijing.

The 1950s play depicts how a relative nobody became a top official through fraud and how he was later exposed as a cheat. In the play, the conman takes advantage of people's gullibility, forges papers, steals other people's identity cards, and lies about his past to swindle his way through a bureaucratic maze.

"My role in the play is a cheat, which suits me very much," said Ge, who has succeeded in many comic roles.

Ge's last movie role stunned fans because he played a more serious role as an emperor in The Banquet co-starring with China's rising star Zhang Ziyi.

Looking West to Chang'an gives Ge an opportunity to return to his roots, both in the area of comedy and stage.

This play is not as well known compared to Lao She's other works, such as Tea House or Dragon Beard Ditch. It was first staged by the former China Youth Art Theater in 1956 and has not been performed for more than half a century.

"The play has its social background, but it's not my job to give a lecture of history," said director Lou. "What I can do is to make the play interesting for today's audiences."

In this version, Lou uses flashing visual images and rock music to make the play more contemporary. Apart from the form, she believes the theme of the play is still relevant today.

For example, Li Wancheng (Li is the same word as chestnut and Wancheng means making fame at an old age) forges documents to lie about his identity and today the phenomenon is so common that the advertisements for forged stamps and certificates can be seen plastered on the bricks of sidewalks of every major city in China.

Images of such advertisements flash up on stage in the play when Li is forging his fake IDs.

Between the scenes, new lines were added to the original script, many improvised by Ge in his unique style of humor.

"On the basis of the original script, we have added a little exaggerated effects," said Lou.

When asked whether there is a risk of himself overshadowing his role and the whole play, Ge said: "The audience might come to the theater to see me, but they will find that it is a play that they are watching."

Ge used food analogy to compare theater and film. Stage drama was cooking a fresh dish and film was eating from a can.

If this play succeeds, Ge will consider more dramas.

"A drama comprises both the cast and audiences," said Ge. "Now we have prepared our part, the rest is for the audience to finish."

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese modern drama and the 108th birth anniversary of Lao She.

After the Beijing show finishes on February 11, the play will tour Shanghai from March 1 to 4, then move to Guangdong Province where it will be staged at Dongguan from 24 to 25 and Shenzhen from 29 to 31.

(China Daily February 6, 2007)