High Life

HIGH LIFE 25 That’s why, in Lam’s plays, homosexuality subverts heterosexuality, youth are afforded the right to express themselves, women are able to be more independent and men are encouraged to show their weakness. Since 2006, the veteran director has produced modern theater adaptations of each of the Four Classic Novels of Chinese literature, namely What Is Man? ( Water Margin ), What Is Fantasy? ( Journey to the West ), What Is Success? ( Romance of the Three Kingdoms ) and What Is Sex? ( A Dream of Red Mansions ). He tries to rediscover such topics as humanity, the meaning of life and love in these classics via a modern perspective, believing that the strong resonance the classics have today makes them a valuable source of inspiration. Lam says the goal of modern adaptation of literary classics is to intrigue the audience with thinking about what is changing and what is not. “Nowadays people all seem to live on their own planet – loneliness. I’m always curious about how difficult it can be for people to open themselves to others,” he explains. “That loneliness, in the end, leads to the eternal question, ‘Who am I?’ All my works, in the end, are asking this question.” Most of Lam’s plays last for three or even four hours, with lots of detail and nonlinear statements that often lead viewers to complain they don’t quite understand the message. In reponse, Lam suggests that plays are supposed to ask questions, not provide answers.