Tan Yifan

    cicitan2011@gmail.com

    CHINESE skit comedian Zhao Benshan and his all-star errenzhuan (a song-and-dance duet pupular in Northeast China) performers made their local debut last Thursday night at Futian’s Modern Performing Arts Center-turned Liu Laogen Grand Stage.

    Five pairs of performers brought roars of laughter to about 700 audience members during the 150-minute pilot show.

    Starting with Zhao’s lesser-known student Hu Hui’s solo performance, nine other errenzhuan stars took turns performing skits, including stand-up comedy, songs, errenzhuan and musical instrument performances.

    Wang Xiaoli and his wife Li Lin, both of whom earned their fame in the teleplay “Countryside Love Story,” presented traditional errenzhuan as the highlight of the night.

    Zhao later took to the stage, playing the erhu solo “Horse Racing,” sang two songs from his TV dramas “Liu Laogen” and “Countryside Love Story,” and performed an errenzhuan excerpt.

    The Shenzhen flagship theater is the first in South China and the 9th Liu Laogen Grand Stage in China.

    In an earlier interview with Shenzhen Daily, Zhao said he was surprised by the coincidence that the location of his theater bears the same name as his hometown, Lianhua Village in Tieling City, Liaoning Province.

    Zhao said it is his second attempt to reach southern audiences after his TV drama “Veteran” was broadcasted by Jiangsu Satellite TV.

    “I once worried that Cantonese people might not understand errenzhuan,” Zhao said. “But we successfully won over local audiences in Jiangsu Province and overseas. I am now confident about spreading errenzhuan in southern China.”

    Zhao said he is also considering opening another theater in Hong Kong.

    Established in 2009, Liu Laogen Grand Stage is operated by Benshan Media, whose business now covers entertainment, education and charities. The company has trained many comedians such as Xiao Shenyang, Wang Xiaoli and Song Xiaobao.