Fraud Case During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Play "If I Were Real"

Official Entry for the 41st Seoul Theater Festival... From the 19th to 29th at Hanyang Repertoire Theater

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The play "If I Were Real," set during China's Cultural Revolution, has been selected as an official entry for the 41st Seoul Theater Festival and will be performed from the 19th to the 29th at the Hanyang Repertory Theater.

"If I Were Real" is a representative work by Chinese National First-Class playwright Sa Yexin. It is a black comedy about the educated youth Li Shaojiang, who lived in the countryside as part of the "Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Movement" during the Cultural Revolution, impersonating the son of a high-ranking official, which leads to a series of events.

The original play is based on a true story that occurred in China. At that time, a young man in his early twenties impersonated the son of a general and defrauded many people, including prominent figures in the cultural sector and current officials.

Sa Yexin personally interviewed the young man in prison and wrote the work. When it premiered in early 1979, it caused a great sensation throughout China but was soon banned. As a form of protest, Sa Yexin reportedly took the stage at the final performance and bowed in farewell to the work. Since then, the play has not been performed in mainland China, but it was made into a film in Taiwan in 1981 and won the Golden Horse Award for Best Screenplay.

Li Shaojiang, who worked in the countryside, tries to return to the city but faces difficulties due to privileged children who use connections and shortcuts. He frequently quarrels with his girlfriend Zhou Minghua, who anxiously awaits him in the city. To win over Zhou Minghua's father, who opposes their marriage, he tries gifting fake Maotai liquor, but it is to no avail. In frustration, Li Shaojiang impersonates the son of a high-ranking official, and many previously impossible things become possible.

The 20th-century Chinese society depicted in "If I Were Real" resembles 21st-century Korean society, marked by polarization with "dirt spoons" and "gold spoons," privileged classes and their offspring, inequality, and unfairness.

Dreamplay Theze21's "If I Were Real" directly features playwright Sa Yexin on stage, delivering explanations and stage directions through narration and dialogue. The adaptation actively focuses on Li Shaojiang's story while altering Zhou Minghua's situation and character to emphasize a contemporary perspective that looks more at 2020 Korean society than 1979 Chinese society.

After the performances at 3 p.m. on the 23rd and 24th, there will be a talk session with the director and actors.