Chris Verrill does Broadway the Beijing way
It wasn't a particularly odd reason Chris Verrill decided to stop when passing through Beijing in 2005. Having spent two years travelling to 49 countries on six continents, he probably just needed a good rest. It could also may have been the hand of fate at work, as Chris soon decided he wanted to settle and set up a theater group. Despite many challenges, in only two years the Beijing Playhouse has become the largest locally produced English theatre in China–an impressive feat for a lone San Franciscan casting anchor in a city of 15 million.

“It was a silly folly that grew suddenly thanks to the 100 actors and volunteers who have made this dream a reality,” says Verrill, founder and executive director of Beijing Playhouse. “The theater has been a personal love for all my adult life, so when I got to Beijing, I was going through performance withdrawals; I wanted to put on a play. Little did I know this whole theater would soon be born.”

The performing arts is notoriously difficult to produce, fund and garner support for anywhere in the world, but Verrill was not deterred, even by the enormous contrasts between his shining dream and the dust-dulled reality of Beijing. Solid interest from the community helped him cope with the challenges. So did lots of beer (indeed, their cast parties kept the old 5:19 Bar alive for an extra three months!).

Although the group has only broken even on ticket sales, Chris is confident of the Playhouse's future. “Broadway theatre in Beijing brings a little bit of home to China. It also exposes local audiences to a bit of Western culture. That's a good thing.”

In April, the Beijing Playhouse puts on its fourth production, Neil Simon's The Odd Couple,” one of the most popular Broadway comedies of all time. “Two mismatched people forced to live together? That concept is as hilarious as it is universal,” Verrill says. The rehearsals are already making me laugh.”In a town fraught with contrasts, you need a sense of humour to pull off any feat, not to mention the ability to remain calm. The Odd Couple's main characters, Felix (the pedantic) and Oscar (the slob) sum up the contrasts many laowai experience in China's capital. In some respects, Oscar and Felix are like East and West,” Verrill explains. On the surface, they sometimes bicker, but in their hearts, they know they're good friends.

Tania McCartney

Details: The Odd Couple
Where: Chaoyang Cultural Center and venues around town