Teahouse

Written in 1957, Teahouse is Lao She's tour de force masterwork of Chinese drama: a play in three acts spanning fifty years with a cast of over sixty characters drawn from all levels of society. Brought together over the daily ritual of tea and conversation, the characters reflect, via a masterful recreation of the language and dialogue of old Beijing, upon the changes in their own lives, and the changes that were taking place in Chinese society from the twilight of the dynastic era to the dawn of the Peoples Republic of China. Teahouse is a window into the heart and soul of the Chinese people at a crucial moment in history. 

In comparing the old China with the new Chia, the appeal of Teahouse through the decades reaches well beyond the borders of social criticism and extends into a complex and living work of art. Standing as it does between two distinct Chinas (the old and the new), and with its feet firmly rooted in both, Teahouse, even in the 21st century, has remained true to its author, true to its time, and true to China. It is this rare quality that makes it a masterpiece of modern theater beloved by audience worldwide.