  |
 |
|
 |
| |
Synopsis | Rehearsal Photo | Photo Gallery | Review | Music Clip
Above Full Moon – the musical starts with the
Boxer Rebellion of the late 1890’s in China, in the midst of confusion
we see the hero of the musical, Lee Shu Tong, stopped by foreign troupes
while on his way to the court examination, stopped by the foreign troupe.
The city of Tianjin had been seized by foreign forces. It was then that
he realized that his dream had been dashed, he would never be able to
become an officer in the court and he would not have the opportunity to
help his country… no matter how talented he is.
Lee had been born into a rich and traditional family.
He had a gentle and earnest personality and showed versatile
artistic talent since very young. Like most educated young
Chinese, Lee believed his country and the Qing Dynasty,
which was controlled by the powerful Empress Dowager,
needed a reform. However, the reform movement was short
lived and most of the reformers had been either killed
or forced into exile overseas.
In 1906, Lee’s beloved mother passed away. Bound
to a loveless arranged marriage and disappointed by the situation in
his country, he left his wife at home to study Western painting and
music in Japan. There, he fell in love with his Japanese model. Though
she knew of his past, she chose to stay with him. While studying, he
formed “Chunliu Association”, a coterie of drama, which
subsequently moved to Shanghai and pioneered the New Dramatic Movement
in China.
In 1911 when Lee returned to China, Qing Dynasty has been
overthrown and a new government was in ruling. But, the situation in
the country was still uncertain and people were living in fear and poverty.
Lee felt that education was the best solution to his country’s
problems and that the society needed cleansing through arts. He took
up a teaching post where he taught painting and music, as the vanguard
of education in western arts. Many of his students became renowned artists,
painters and musicians.
However, he again surprised many people. After 7
years as a well-respected educator, Lee decided to take up the rope
and was ordained as a Buddhist monk. He then dedicated all his time
and effort to seeking perfection in life. His life’s journey as
a citizen of his country had reached a higher level. He felt that a
spiritual path complemented by his artistic expression was the way to
a life with deeper meaning and satisfaction, a life liken to Above Full
Moon…
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
