An Eastern Allegory of Choice and Peace Told in Play

"Flower in the Mirror, Moon in the Water," the 43rd original play by famed playwright Stan Lai, will return to Theater Above from September 18 to 20, starring Taiwanese actress Michelle Chen.

As an Eastern allegory, the play draws on mythology from the "Classic of Mountains and Seas." Through the rise and fall of a woman's life, it launches a profound inquiry into life and choice.

"After more than 40 years of theater creation, I wanted to write a work about choice," Lai said. "If you lose your direction in life, go and look at the wisdom of the ancients."

With the help of costume designer Huang Wei, Lai brings the imagery of ancient mythical beasts to the stage, intertwining myth and reality to create a powerful visual impact.

This marks Michelle Chen's first leading role in a stage play. She plays "Moon," a character whose age spans from 10 to 70. Over the course of a long life, she moves from a young girl full of hatred to midlife hardship and torment, and then to clarity and release in old age.

What the play seeks to convey is precisely this: revenge is never the end of life; true liberation lies in making peace with the past and with oneself.

The performance has English subtitles.

Performance info

Dates: September 18-19, 7:30pm; September 20, 2:30pm

Tickets: 180-980 yuan

Venue: Theater Above 上剧场

Address: 5F, 1111 Zhaojiabang Road 肇嘉浜路1111号5楼