Q+A | Stan Lai

Did you intend to change xiangsheng when you first started?

I didn't set out to change it. I respect it. It is redefining itself as time goes on. It is a little sad that xiangsheng is the only comedic performance indigenous to Chinese. Why didn't we have more sophisticated forms of comedy? Over the years, we have been exploring ways to let it take on a new voice or a new expression.

What is the Stan Lai style that runs through all your work?

Anyone who creates any work will inevitably have his or her imprint on it. Whenever I work on something, I want to make it right, as if it is a puzzle and I have to figure out where each piece goes. Another person may do it another way. The way I do it is my style.

What do you think of the great playwrights from the old days, such as Lao She and Cao Yu?

They created classics, but it can be a problem if we treat them as prototypes for others to imitate. Our society is one of diversity.

When you stage a foreign play, do you usually keep as much of the original as possible or try to bring it closer to local audiences?

I want it to speak to Chinese audiences.

Would you incorporate your religious beliefs into your plays?

I'm a practicing Buddhist. Buddhism does not have some god you have to believe in. It just points to a road.

Do you ever think of the legacy you'll leave behind?

We are fortunate to be in a time when people are willing to pay to see our shows. Even if someone watches a video of our performance without paying, I'm still grateful. Look at the popular playwrights of the 19th century. Most have been forgotten. Time can be fickle. What we need is to take hold of the present.