Southern California Time Theatre Presents Classic Play “The Field of Life and Death” Paying Tribute to Literature and History, Awakening Culture and Hearts
LAPost/Irvine (April 6, 2025) — In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Southern California’s Time Theatre has brought to the stage the Chinese classic play The Field of Life and Death. A preview was held on the evening of April 2 at the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, followed by three public performances from April 3 to 5, all of which received enthusiastic responses from audiences and critical acclaim from literary and art reviewers.
Actors take their bows (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
Directed and headlined by acclaimed actor Jia Yiping from the China National Theatre, the production features a powerhouse cast including Dong Xiaoyan, Xiang Bin, and Duan Xuming. With an expressionist, fervent stage style, this century-spanning masterpiece of literature and drama has been revitalized in Southern California.
Adapted from the novel of the same name by modern Chinese writer Xiao Hong, the play was reimagined by Tian Qinxin, director of the China National Theatre, in the late 20th century. While preserving the essence of the original work, the adaptation restructures character relationships and incorporates cinematic techniques such as flashbacks, freeze frames, and nonlinear storytelling to heighten dramatic tension. Some dialogues also cleverly integrate content from Xiao Hong’s other work, Tales of Hulan River, allowing the words of 1935 to “speak” anew on a 21st-century stage. The play has won numerous national awards, including the China Art Festival Grand Prize, the Wenhua Award, and the Cao Yu Drama Literature Award, securing its place in the history of Chinese theater.
Co-produced by the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center, this Irvine production was led by producers Dong Xiaoyan and Pan Qi’er, with a cast that also included Zhang Jun, Liu Xiaozhi, and Zhang Mo, among others. Set in a remote village in 1930s Heilongjiang, the story portrays a group of villagers struggling on the edge of survival who gradually awaken from their numbness under the Japanese invasion, ultimately rising together in resistance.
Jia Yiping was interviewed before the performance (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
In an interview, Jia Yiping shared: “This is a highly symbolic play. The stage design is minimalist, using shifts in lighting and imagery to deeply explore the theme of ‘how to live’—a question that remains profoundly relevant today. Life and death are not the ultimate concerns; what truly matters is ‘living,’ the awakening of humanity, and the choices we make.”
The production not only gathered professional theater talents but also attracted passionate “cross-industry” drama enthusiasts. Among the cast were professionals from the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy, as well as Chinese community members from diverse fields such as law, city council, insurance, and food delivery. For instance, lawyer Michael Zhang returned to the stage after his performance in The Wilderness, while Lake Forest City Councilmember Benjamin Yu made his acting debut as a villager. Yu, who is of Manchu descent and hails from Northeast China, expressed familiarity with the play’s setting. Jia Yiping remarked that Southern California is “full of hidden talents,” and the troupe hopes to continue discovering and integrating community resources to develop Chinese-language theater.
(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
The dedication of the backstage team was equally moving. Producer Dong Xiaoyan admitted, “From stage construction and lighting setup to ordering and picking up meals, every team member pitched in personally.” According to production manager Eve Xu, the four-day event drew over 1,400 audience members, with a dozen core crew members leading nearly 40 student volunteers to handle tasks including ticketing, venue setup, and backstage management.
The production also received support from several Chinese community leaders. Philanthropist Zhang Xianghua sponsored the event, while Lang Ping, former head coach of the Chinese women’s volleyball team, attended the premiere. Chinese-American entrepreneur Darren Wang served as the play’s exclusive title sponsor, stating: “We stand at the forefront of carrying forward Chinese art overseas. Every Chinese person with a sense of heritage feels both a sense of urgency and a mission, willing to contribute in whatever small way to preserve and pass on our culture.”
Time Theatre plans to produce two Chinese-language plays annually, cultivating a cultural habit among Chinese audiences to “step into the theater.” “Drama requires the audience’s physical presence—it is not just artistic expression but also an awakening of the soul,” Jia Yiping remarked.
By: Richard Ren / LAPost
(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)
