Two men tell their stories onstage

Only A Recollection of the Past is a semibiographical play by theater big names Tian Haojiang and Wang Weichung. Provided to China Daily

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When Tian was a child, he idolized his brother to such an extent that he practically copied everything his brother did. The brother also helped Tian leave the country to pursue his opera star dream in the United States.

His brother, also a fan of classical music, chose to stay at home and spent the rest of his life as a worker. It was not until his brother's last moments that Tian sadly found that his brother had an equally beautiful voice.

Wang, too, used to worship his brother as a hero who was once so powerful and taught him so many things during his childhood.

But later his brother quit school, went to the US and never returned. Wang was so angry at his brother "lazing away the rest of his life" that he never spoke to him again until after their father's death. The two had a big fight.

"I have mostly stood aloof from my brother. But after he died, I realized how much I loved him though I was once so angry at him," Wang says. "When you feel that the role of your older brother starts to change, it's actually your inner self that's changing."

Both brotherly relationships are part of the emotional climax in the play, according to director Xie Nianzu. "The two actors are using their lives instead of techniques to perform," he says.

But touching the audience is only part of their goal, Wang adds, as the more important aim is to provoke their thoughts.

"This is more like a stage of life. Many veteran artists or social workers share many learning experiences with common people. They decide to put their lives onstage so that audiences can observe the change of times and the evolution of the traditional code of conduct," Wang says.

IF YOU GO

7:30 pm, March 27-30. Poly Theater, 4 Dongzhimen Nan Dajie (Street), Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6500-1188.

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