Raymond Zhou

Arts events for holidays

By Raymond Zhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-10-01 06:11

I once flew over a sprawling metropolis in the American South on the night of July 4. Small pockets of fireworks sparkled below, many of which I knew were illegal.

Unknown to many Chinese, US cities also have strict policies on firecrackers and organize periodic crackdowns on unauthorized selling and using. And like in China, the restrictions don't work that well.

People want an outlet for their jubilation and firecrackers, for all the obvious side effects, seem to provide for this. Of course, the Chinese, except Hongkongers, don't usually stage firework displays on the National Day. They are usually saved for the Lunar New Year.

Mainland Chinese have something for our National Day that nobody else has: a weeklong holiday. But before it becomes the envy of the world, it has run into a few glitches, most notably traffic jams at tourist sites.

Tens of millions of people taking to the road and cramming into national parks and world heritage sites can strain resources beyond the capacity of any business. So how can a country of 1.3 billion have a collective celebration without creating chaos or resorting to such extreme action as holding a series of rehearsed events?

One solution is to offer diversified live entertainment by organizing for the nation's performing arts troupes to stage outdoor public events.

As more and more urbanites are staying away from popular tourist destinations, cities are swarming with people during the Golden Week. Citizens may take short getaways, call on friends or relax at home, where they have time to go on shopping trips or jaunts to local parks. Millions of migrant workers, in particular, won't be leaving cities because of the expense of doing so and having fewer days off.

All this creates perfect conditions for staging small-sized public performances across metropolitan China. And these shows should be free and publicized. If prepared well, they would entail very little marginal cost or logistics.

China's performing arts troupes are almost all state-sponsored. In return, they offer a certain number of "non-commercial" performances by travelling to remote rural areas or industrial towns to add a "taste of culture". But they also spend time on elaborate acts that appeal to only a few award jurors.

If each of these groups put on a single full-length show during the 7-day holiday in a public venue such as a park, a downtown plaza or a closed-off street, it could easily draw an audience of thousands, many of whom will be in search of recreational activities to kill their time. It doesn't have to be elaborate, just two-dozen singers, dancers and comedians with proper sound amplification on a slightly elevated makeshift stage - voila, we have a show. And it doesn't have to be specially programmed as existing acts from their repertories may fit the bill perfectly.

Offering free performances on the street can enliven a city's cultural scene with the minimum amount of investment. And it won't encroach on arts groups' regular business because it's basically a free sampling of their "products" and will most probably entice more paying patrons in the future.

Yet, many artists will cringe at such a prospect. Performing arts are sacred to them, and a properly outfitted theatre is the only setting they'll find acceptable. Ever since New China exalted the status of performing artists, it inadvertently set up a partition between those who perform and those who watch. It seems art is to be delivered from up high. Singing, dancing, telling jokes and doing somersaults among the audience, rather in front of them and on the street, may remind one of street performers of the old days who were essentially beggars.

But it doesn't have to be that way. In the West, free performances go on all through summer. Opera companies and classical orchestras dole out popular offerings. Even Meryl Streep gives her rendition of classic plays in New York's Central Park, turning it into the cultural event of the year for that city.

Now, imagine an ancient capital like Beijing, where performing arts troupes may exceed 100. One free outdoor performance by each company, preferably for each of the three Golden Weeks or, better, spread throughout the year, will make Beijing one of the most culturally vibrant places in the world, and leave many holiday-weary residents and visitors humming a happy tune.

(China Daily 10/01/2005 page4)