Not much is known about modern Chinese drama throughout the western world, a situation that the Traverse theatre has started to remedy with its production of Wang Xiaoli's In the Bag .
Set in present day Beijing the action follows two brothers: the younger, (Mo Zaninal) a workaholic working more days than there are in the month, married to his beautiful shop-aholic wife (Michelle Macerlean); his brother, (Daniel York) an unmotivated writer still living in his ex-girlfriend's flat, unable to make that final break.
What follows is an examination of the vacuous materialistic nature of each character's life, while they try and find happiness through work, shopping or dreams. Ultimately one couple finds happiness through their unborn child, the other suffering the agony of a long and protracted separation.
Taking four years of research and translation the Traverse has produced a production with many similarities to those of modern day Britain . For those looking for a new take on the world and a different view point there will be a disappointment, yet this play goes a long way to demystify the Chinese way of life: a society that has been shrouded in mystery to many of us for decades.
In the Bag shows a society no different from that of a western culture: Obsessed with trying to find happiness through materialistic gains rather than emotional connections.
For a country that has been through such a social and political upheaval you may expect a more powerful piece of drama from a culture that is so different from that of the west yet what we see is a society no different from our own. Obsessed with image; the way we are seen by our peers and superiors.
Lorne Campbell's direction is excellently simplistic letting the script take control and drive the action through. It all looks very beautiful in Jon Bausor's chic set full of designer furniture yet below lies a layer of rubbish and junk, symbolic of the characters life.
In the Bag is an interesting piece that goes a long way to explaining the mind set of modern day China although not the most dramatic of plays it is still a strong piece of drama which will pave the way for other Chinese playwrights in the future.
