NY musical becomes completely Chinese

Actors handle the fluffy Sesame Street-style puppets. Photo provided to China Daily

Children practice Peking opera in E China

Kid's theater is too much drama

The argument now fits into Avenue Q. Northerners and southerners mock each other in scores and harmonies.

"For nearly every gag there was in the original, we try to localize it to show and fit the circumstances in China," says Cheng He, the translator who took pains to modify the script to Chinese. "We throw away jokes that don't come across to audiences here and actively look for stories pertinent to Chinese experiences."

Each actor is versatile enough to smoothly double in at least two roles, all the while inventing jokes on the go.

Zhang Xiaoqing, who at one moment is the innocent, sweet teacher-to-be Maomao Mei (Kate Monster in the original), can turn around to voice and mime the sensual, sexy, mellow-voiced Lucy the slut.

Celebrities, including Chinese-American comedian Huang Xi (Joe Wong), are making guest appearances in the musical in select sessions.

So even though the story centers on ill-fated, jobless, striving college graduates looking to find work and meaning in their lives, it's the fun and laughs that prevail. Bring tissues: You may laugh until you cry.

IF YOU GO

2:00 pm, Wednesday to Sunday until June 29. Haidian Theater, 28 Zhongguancun Bei Dajie (Street), Haidian district, Beijing. 010-6255-8026.