We would like to invite all interested Cornell members to join us, on April 19^th and 20^th, in the exploration of the essence of human life presented on stage by our amazing actors and stage staff for a performance of To Live adapted for the stage by Meng Jinghui.

What is a life to live, and what is a life worth living?

Originally written by Yu Hua, To Live examines these soul-searching questions by recounting the personal story of Xu Fugui, a common country folk whose life had tightly intertwined with the most turbulent time period in the history of modern China. It records, among others, the downfall of the old money, the decease of the loved ones, and the resilience of humanity amid the series of tribulations. A heart-wrenching epitome of the lives of the underclass from 1940s to 1970s, To Live spans across major time nodes such as the Chinese Civil War, the Cultural Revolution, and the Great Leap Forward. It urges the readers to contemplate on the meaning of life. Is life still worth living when everything you treasure is gone? Is life any more, or nothing more than barely being alive?

To Live till nowadays remains as one of the most reputable literary works which has profoundly impacted generations of Chinese and global readers. It has been adapted into film production by Zhang Yimou in 1994 and theatre drama by Meng Jinghui in 2012. This spring, CDS proudly presents the theatre edition of the masterwork. 

The play will be performed in Mandarin. English super-titles will be provided.