Reviews: Television

Casting contest for A Dream of the Red Mansions

This Beijing Satellite TV reality show is going into its final rounds, with finalists being whittled down from 25 to 16 or less for each of the three major roles Jia Baoyu, the boyish male lead; Lin Daiyu, the porcelain fragile and aloof girl and Xue Baochai, her counterpoint who embodies many traditional virtues, such as tolerance and understanding.

Sunday night's show, for which I sat on the nine-judge media panel but was more accurately an observer, was a showcase for Lin. Honestly, some of the contestants look nothing like the character portrayed in this greatest novel of Chinese literature, and rightfully discarded.

There are half a dozen who are very good, not only looking the part but with temperament and acting chops to match. At this stage of the process, most of the contestants left are professionally trained, with either acting or dancing background. A Cinderella-like discovery from the grassroots is not very likely a la the 1986 version.

As a live show, it lacks enough dramatic flair to attract as much attention as Supergirls or My Hero. But if it truly uncovers and grooms talent for the future drama series, it'll be worth the effort.

Raymond Zhou

(China Daily 04/11/2007 page20)