High-kicking Chinese Marxists are set to bring communism’s most famous tract to life — as a musical.
An all-singing, all-dancing stage version of Das Kapital is being produced in Shanghai to show how the thinking of Karl Marx is as relevant in today’s economic crisis as when his book was first published in 1867, producers said yesterday.
“The entertainment and theatrical elements will help ordinary people better understand why the financial crisis is happening,” said Zhang Jun (張軍), a Fudan University economics professor, who is an adviser on the production.
Zhang said his role is to ensure Marx’s ideas are accurately represented in the stage spectacular.
“I’ve given an introductory briefing to the crew. They are still working on the script,” Zhang said.
“The director, He Nian, will incorporate modern elements in the show to make it easily connect to people’s lives and feelings,” Zhang said.
The musical will revolve around a group of office workers who discover their boss is exploiting them and each responds differently, the China Daily reported.
“We will bring [Marx’s] economic theories to life in a trendy, interesting and educational play, which will be fun to watch,” the paper quoted He as saying.
The show is still in the development stage and would likely debut next year at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, an employee at the center said.
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