Join the CBU community at the Boardmore Theatre between January 28 and February 2, for the latest adaptation of Koki Mitani’s, The Sadness of Comedy.
The story is set in China during World War II, amidst fierce frontline battles between the Nationalist forces and the Japanese army. To boost public morale and inspire victory, the Nationalist government mandates that all cultural activities must promote patriotism and heroism as their core themes.
Against this backdrop, a playwright from a small theater troupe takes his romantic comedy script for review by the cultural censorship department, where he encounters a censor who has just been reassigned from the battlefield. This strict and harsh censor despises theater, especially comedies and thus subjects the playwright to severe scrutiny over his subpar script. Bearing the dreams of his troupe and the pressure of their collective survival, the playwright repeatedly strives to accommodate the censor’s rigorous demands for script alterations. As the censor continues to make unreasonable demands and the playwright diligently revises the script, it unexpectedly becomes more engaging. Throughout this process, both individuals undergo a transformation in their attitudes. While everything seems to be moving in a positive direction, after seven days, they are forced to confront the profound sadness brought by their era.
Note: The Sadness of Comedy will be performed in the Mandarin language with English subtitles.
Original Playwright: Koki Mitani
First Adaptation by: Ang Xu
Second Adaptation by: Yufeng Ai
Translation: ChatGPT4.o
Director: Yufeng Ai, Jule Ann Hardy
Visit this link for more information on tickets.
Schedule:
Tuesday, January 28 – 7:00pm
Wednesday, January 29 – 7:00pm
Thursday, January 30 – 7:00pm
Friday, January 31 – 7:00pm
Saturday, February 1 – 7:00pm
Sunday, February 2 – 2:00pm