“Three Body” drama lands on Beijing stage

Photo taken on Aug. 3, 2016, shows the performance of stage drama “Three Body Problem” in Beijing, capital of China . The drama show is held at Beijing Exhibition Hall from Aug. 3 to Aug. 8. (Photo provided by the author)

BEIJING, Aug. 4 -- After its successful Shanghai debut, the stage drama, based on Chinese author Liu Cixin's first book of a trilogy titled “Remembrance of Earth’s Past”, or “Three Body Problem”, begins its performance in Beijing on Wednesday.

“Three Body Problem” tells a story about human's first but frustrating contact with an alien civilization. The novel has been hailed by many people from home and abroad, and won the Hugo Award for Best Novel last year.

Along with the storyline with ups and downs, the drama invites multimedia technology to showcase magnificent 3D scenes, bringing audience a visual feast.

The very scene of "three suns" impressed many viewers. People saw flaring "suns" being swept from the stage to the auditorium, “destroying the world", unfolding stunning pictures before their eyes.

In fact, the "suns" were controlled by several unmanned aerial vehicles, with motion trail calculated accurately.

The lighting is another highlight. Hundreds of beams went around back and forth or were projected on semitransparent curtains, creating a vivid 3D world.

"People watch the new form of drama show combined with stage art and special-effects in a theater with great surround sound, which might be the best way for science fiction novels to be showcased on stage," Liu said.

Although there is tiny discrepancy with the original, the script might be a surprise for some “Three Body” fans.

The drama was directed by accomplished director Liu Fangqi, who led his team to adapt the well-known online novel “The Lost Tomb” into a stage drama two years ago, and got good word of mouth.

The crew will continue their national tour in cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Chongqing in southern and western China.