Brecht's famous parable about living a good life in a world ruled by money is here performed admirably by students from the Chinese International School of Hong Kong.
Shen Te, who is a prostitute at the start of the story, receives a gift of money from the gods so that she may live a good life. Before long several people are taking advantage of her kind nature, and she is forced to invent Shui Ta, a tyrannical male cousin who steps in to restore order and deal with creditors.
The large cast, who range in age from very young to late teens, demonstrate a solid understanding of the work they are performing, and there is a lot of heart in their collective performance, even if there are some minor technical issues with the acting. At times there are awkward gestures and moments of playing out of the light, as well as unclear diction here and there, but on the whole the actors perform well. Diana Dai - who plays Shen Te/Shui Ta – does a very good job of leading the cast, and she gives a well-rounded performance in a demanding role. Particularly touching is her song in which she asks ‘why can't the gods do the buying and selling’" as she is adopting the disguise of Shui Ta.
In style, this production combines Western and Chinese forms, a choice that works both because of the nature of the play and because of the international cast. Although the make-up might look a bit strange to Edinburgh audiences, the costumes used are beautiful and carefully thought out. The live music onstage also adds something special to the show, and while it could be tightened up a bit, it is a lovely production of a play that is as relevant now as it ever was.
