Liu Ling Zui (Old Drunken Dream) is a wondrous spectacle. The one-man medley of theatre and dance tells the story of Liu Ling (劉伶), the ancient Chinese poet who was known for his love of alcohol. Performed primarily in Mandarin Chinese and subtitled in English, the monologues were riveting and effective, while the elements of dance were polished and seamlessly integrated into the narrative.
The dynamic lighting and sound design are among the highlights of Liu Ling Zui. In one scene, the entire theatre turns into a constellation of galaxies and stars. The minimal and monochromatic set and costumes were equally as effective and helped the actor transition between different characters and time periods convincingly.
While the play seemed to intend a conversation between a modern literary proofreader and Liu Ling’s ancient spirit, the play spent a disproportionate amount of time on Liu Ling’s life in the past rather than its interactions with the modern-day character. The narrative also felt unfocused, at times feeling like a series of vignettes depicting various folktales associated with Liu Ling instead of having a cohesive arc.
Still, Liu Ling Zui brings together a touching compilation of Chinese philosophical texts, questions, and poems. Though most of these myths are estranged from their original contexts, they are brought to life by a powerful actor and still feel incredibly poignant.
The play builds towards the climatic closing scene: in a fit of drunken passion, Liu Ling begins composing the one and only literary work credited to him today, Ode to the Virtue of Wine. As the actor completes the final, moving monologue, the audience is encouraged to throw pink paper planes (found on our seats) down onto the stage. Set in springtime, it creates the illusion of falling petals, ultimately giving the play a triumphant finish.
Liu Ling Zui is an ambitious production that doesn’t hit all its marks, but it’s no easy task to compress thousands of years of history into a single performance. It is still worth a (very enjoyable) watch.
Liu Ling Zui (Old Drunken Dream) ran at Main House at C ARTS venues until 16 August. Learn more about the production here.
Image provided by Liu Ling Zui Press Team.
