Tickling the funny bone

A stage scenes of  The Visit. Photos provided to China Daily

Wu Qiong, one of the best-known Huangmei Opera actresses in the country, will play in the drama The Visit, which is adapted from Swiss writer Friedrich Durrenmatt's story of the same name. The adaptation will be a mix of traditional opera and modern music and dance.

Wu, who made her name playing the fairy princess in Marriage of the Fairy Princess, says that it's her first time performing in a comedy, which is fun but not easy.

According to Wu, Huangmei Opera can be traced back some 1,400 years to the early Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) in Huangmei county, Hubei province and this comic drama is modern.

"I will sing Huangmei Opera as well as rock and pop songs in the show. It's so interesting," the 51-year-old actress says. The Visit has been touring around China since early this year, and has received warm feedback.

She also points out that thanks to Chen's suggestion, she figured out a way to keep Huangmei Opera alive.

"Traditional plays, like many old art forms in China, are losing audiences. We have to keep it contemporary and creative to attract young audiences. Maybe comedy is a way," she says.