中德两版《哈姆雷特》北京对决

（文本为视频大致内容，可能与视频并非完全一致）

It's been a while since the last time one of Shakespeare's works was staged in Beijing. This month, one of the most veteran and avant-garde drama directors of China, Lin Zhaohua, again evokes the topic by presenting "Hamlet," the eternally enthralling piece by Shakespeare. And to people's surprise, a Hamburg theater company has also been invited to put on a German version of "Hamlet," a even more experimental one. The tale of two princes under two directors.

To be or not to be? To kill or not to kill? To stay quiet or shout out loud?

In the Thalia Theater Hamburg's interpretation of Hamlet, two men - one is middle-aged, portly and the other is young and lithe - play the prince together, often wrapped up in one very large coat.

Luk Perceval, an A-list Belgian director who now works primarily for the Thalia Theater Hamburg in Germany, presented a one-act, two-hour stunt at the Capital Theater, Beijing, over the weekend, which is indulgent, scabrous, and endless.

Mr. Perceval's concept is that Hamlet's legendary indecisiveness is acted out.

As a very controversial drama director in China, Lin Zhaohua is one of the most significant figures in Chinese drama history. Whether you love him or not, you can't ignore him.

Following Thalia Theater's revenge of the prince, Lin staged the revision of his 1990 play "Hamlet" at the same venue on Monday and Tuesday, starring renowned Chinese actors Pu Cunxin, Chen Jin, and Gao Yuanyuan.

Twenty years ago, the play was premiered at the Beijing Film Academy. It thrilled the audience members with its experimental stage performance. Two decades later, director Lin says he wants to pour out his discontentment toward himself and the current stereotyped drama situation in China.

Lin Zhaohua, Director, said, "I realized that my innovation and passion have declined compared to twenty years ago. So I want to revive the spirit back through this play. Today's stage drama is too textual, like a recital of the libretto. But I think drama should be enriched with director and actors' perspectives to the play, to society and life."

Pu Cunxin, a prolific and expressive actor, has headlined Lin's two editions of "Hamlet" by playing the prince in dilemma.

Pu Cunxin, Actor, said, "Every person has a specific reason to read or love Shakespeare. In "Hamlet", I dress up like a Chinese man, but I share the Denmark prince's despair and am stuck in his dilemma. The philosophy conveyed through the play is eternal."

Many people first recognized Lin through Three Sisters Waiting for Godot, a play that tried to integrate the two drama masterpieces. He continued his experiments through a series of controversial realistic plays such as "Bird Man", "Toilet" and "Cherry Garden."

Earlier this year, Lin watched Perceval's "Hamlet" in Germany and immediately sent out the invitation, thus securing the collaboration.

Perceval is renowned for interpreting Shakespeare, while seasoning it with modern elements. He achieves this with the help of Feridun Zaimoglu and Gunter Senkel, who are credited with the new translation.

The new companions give compliments to each other.

Lin Zhaohua, Director, said, "I would like to dispel the influence of the literary classic and try to present a totally modern day drama. But I found Perceval is more bold and avant guard, which makes me feel I am too conventional."

The two "Hamlet"s are only a part of the Lin Zhaohua Theater Art Festival, which runs from November 30th to December 19th at the Capital Theater. Presented by Lin's Theater Studio, one of China's longest standing independent modern theater groups, the event will stage seven plays by prominent Chinese and German directors.