I began to enjoy musicals when I was in college.  Having a lot of spare time to develop hobbies and interest, I got familiar with many art forms including modern drama, musicals, drawing and calligraphy, and was most deeply moved by musicals.  The attractive sound effect, the stage scenes and performance of the actors brought such visual and audio enjoyment to audiences.

When in college, I watched the English version of “Mamma Mia” at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.  The story, which took place on a beautiful Greek island, was about Sophie, who wanted to be given away to the bridegroom at her wedding by her natural father.  Not knowing which of her mother’s three lovers was her real father, she invited all three.  The story went on between three middle-aged men, Sophie, her mother and her mother’s best friends.  The fascinating story and the moving voices of the actors touched me at the bottom of my heart.  Many songs in the musical were known to all.  What’s more, the musical taught us to be brave and have a positive attitude towards life.  The musical filled the audience with joy and excitement.

 Last Christmas, I watched the French version of the musical “Romeo and Juliet” at the Shanghai Culture Square. The performance beautifully interpreted the popular romantic tragedy by Shakespeare.  The acting was superb.  The love between Romeo and Juliet and the conflict between the two families immersed the audience in romance and sorrow.  My favorite actor was the one playing the King of Terrors because his portrayal was so realistic that I felt despair and helplessness.  At the end of the performance, following chants for encore, the entire cast re-did the theme song and wished the audience a Merry Christmas.  What an exciting and unforgettable evening!

Recently, I watched a musical, “Once on this Island”, by a group of graduate students majoring in music drama.  It’s the Chinese version of the “Mermaid”, a love story between a rich man and a poor woman that happened a long time ago on an island.  The dancing of the actors, together with the lively music, was fascinating and exciting.  The beautiful set, mostly handmade by the students, was amazing!

Musicals, with its spectacular set, the singing, dancing, acting, and dramatic stories, are one of the most enjoyable of art forms.  I’m looking forward to watching more wonderful musicals in the future!