I thought this would be a good time for some unadulterated advertising for my nearest and dearest given this will be my last post for a couple of weeks.
Shameless Plug No. 1: Beijing Playhouse is putting on a production of Guys and Dolls every Friday, Saturday and Sunday September 7-30. Actually Xinhua and Beijing Playhouse have enjoyed sound bilateral relations and a healthy strategic partnership of cooperation in recent months. A former polishing comrade of mine played Scrooge in A Christmas Carol last year, which enabled the rest of us to enjoy a lot more night shifts in his absence. We received free tickets in return and I’m still wondering if we were robbed. Amusingly, the Ghost of Christmas Future from the same production came for an interview at Xinhua a couple of months ago to replace Scrooge. Well, this time I also have a free ticket because my girlfriend Nina is playing one of the lead roles - a “mission doll” called Sarah, who falls for gambler Skye Masterson, played by Marlon Brando in the film version. This means I have to watch Nina kissing another man on stage - three times. Actually the jealousy has subsided. She has already kissed him 85 times in rehearsals and he doesn’t look like Marlon Brando. Ticket details are on the website if anyone is interested.
Shameless Plug No. 2: Asia Weekly magazine. There are reasons why I am recommending the purchase of this publication other than the fact my housemate, and friend since school days, writes for it. Er … Living or traveling in Asia? Asia Weekly briefs you on everything you need to know, from politics to property, in a concise and easy read. Ok, that was just lifted from their website. Seriously though, this magazine is a damn good read, a slick round-up of all the goings-on in East Asia from the previous week. It is based very closely on the British current affairs magazine The Week and brings together all the opinions from English-language media on the main issues in Asia. It even quotes Xinhua sometimes so you can’t knock its pledge to be unbiased. Apparently you can order three free copies by going here. Even better, stop by Bayley & Jackson Medical Center, where my girlfriend works - apparently their coffee tables are buried in copies of the magazine. My god, I think that counts as a third shameless plug.
David D | 21-Aug-07 at 4:50 pm | Permalink
Free copies of Asia Weekly sound good. 40 RMB isn’t cheap compared to domestic magazines.
I usually take cuttings of good articles from magazines and newspapers but with Asia Weekly I don’t know where to start with the scissors - s’all good.
They had a feature on how Viagra is changing Asian society this week:
“Viagra seems to be fuelling a sexual revolution in China and other Asian countries. How else to explain how the disgraced Communist Party secretary of Shanghai, Chen Liangyu, allegedly managed to keep 11 mistresses at the age of 60?”
Am I the only one who aspires to live out my old age in the style of these rich Chinese businessmen and morally corrupt officials?
China Law Blog | 24-Aug-07 at 5:26 am | Permalink
You have to watch the Entourage episode (a few weeks ago) where Ari’s wife is on a soap opera and has to kiss 19 year old Julio.
Danwei | 04-Sep-07 at 12:25 am | Permalink
Danwei Model Workers - English Division…
Danwei Model Worker Award Since Danwei.org began publishing in 2003, the number of informative, well-written…
boyce | 04-Sep-07 at 8:15 pm | Permalink
Nice magazine though whoever chooses the covers does seem to have a North Korea fetish…
Chris O'Brien | 04-Sep-07 at 9:10 pm | Permalink
CLB - Thanks for the tip, I’m on the hunt for the box set to make the necessary mental preparations.
Boyce - Glad I didn’t make a duff recomendation. Actually the publisher Jasper Becker wrote a book on North Korea called Rogue Regime (and indeed three books on China and one on Mongolia). Personally I can’t get enough of the North Korea stuff - welcome relief from all things China.
Chris (in Dalian) | 05-Sep-07 at 10:21 pm | Permalink
I’m planning to be in the audience for at least one showing of Guys & Dolls, fulfilling a promise to the hometown friend who’s playing one of the dancers (I think) and always lets me crash on her couch when I’m in town. Looks like a good show, based on the small segment or rehearsal I saw a week or so ago.
Chris O'Brien | 06-Sep-07 at 12:01 am | Permalink
Ah good stuff, I’ll be the tall bloke shielding his eyes from the love scenes if you are attending the opening night on Friday …