Dark satire deconstructs the themes of violence and power

The dark satire "Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus" had its Chinese premiere at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center last week.

American playwright Taylor Mac reimagines Shakespeare's blood-soaked tragedy "Titus Andronicus" in this Broadway production and deconstructs the themes of violence and power rather than presenting the original work.

The protagonist is a nameless corpse cleaner, while the frantic actions of three characters reveal the cyclical nature of violent history.

In "Titus Andronicus," Gary is a clown who is sentenced to death for no wrongdoing of his own. In the sequel by Mac, he manages to avoid execution by agreeing to serve as a maid, helping to clean up the aftermath of the violence.

Gary evolves from a clown into an "artist," aiming to use theatrical performance as a means to transform a world plagued by violence and power. But can art truly save the world? Gary attempts to harness art to ignite revolution and end conflict, driven by naive optimism.

"Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus" was created in 2016, during a time when significant divisions among various social groups in contemporary American society led to widespread reflection.

In the play's finale, actors cradle an infant and softly sing, calling for the courage to confront the world's cruelties while ensuring a place for laborers, children, and artistic creators. For the performances in Shanghai, several babies, aged 8 to 14 months, were brought in for guest appearances.

Performance info

Dates: Through August 31, 2pm/7:30pm (no shows on Monday or Thursday)

Tickets: 180-380 yuan

Venue: Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center 上海话剧艺术中心

Address: 288 Anfu Rd 安福路288号