Comedy from Taiwan to be Staged at the National Grand Theater

It's not a typo. Shamlet, not Hamlet, will play at the National Center for the Performing Arts (also known as the National Grand Theater) from January  16 to 20. It is not Shakespeare's tragedy but Taiwan director Lee Kuo-shiu and his Ping-Fong Acting Troupe's classic situation comedy.

When the play had its mainland debut at the PLA Theater of Beijing on May last year, laughter was heard about 150 times during the performance, and the curtain call lasted more than eight minutes.

"We feel very honored to be the first drama troupe from Taiwan to perform at the National Grand Theater," says Lee, founder and artistic director of Ping-Fong Acting Troupe. "This will be an important tour in our history."

Taiwan Ping-Fong Acting Troupe will amuse Beijing audiences with its comedy Shamlet

Shamlet tells the story of an amateur theater group called Fong-Ping, which goes on a tour with a play called Shamlet. After their debut to a very lukewarm reception, they vow to strive harder as they travel, but are plagued by problems among the cast.

In the first scene, the Fong-Ping Troupe plays some of the most important parts of Hamlet, which will be performed by the troupe again and again during their tour, but personal vendettas turn the play into a chaotic mess.

"Please do not be late for this play. If you miss the first scene, you will have problems understanding the later japes," Lee says.