From City News Service
Time: August 21, 2026 to August 23, 2026
Venue:5/F, 1111 Zhaojiabang Road 肇嘉浜路1111号5楼
Can True Love Bloom from Lies? The romantic comedy "Love, Lies and Rice Noodles," adapted from French playwright Pierre Marivaux's "Le Jeu de L'Amour et du Hasard" (The Game of Love and Chance), is meeting Shanghai audiences at Theater Above.
Directed by Taiwanese actress and director Ismene Ting, the play is set in 1930s Shanghai.
A wealthy heiress and a young man returning from overseas both resist an arranged marriage. To test each other, they secretly swap places with their own servants, using lies and disguises to hide the reversal of master-servant roles – yet in the process, genuine feelings begin to grow.
Behind the laughter, the creative team poses a thought-provoking question: when all social identities are stripped away, do we dare to love with our true selves?
"It's a comedy, so it has a happy ending," said director Ting. "But in real life, I always believe that mutual sincerity is the first and foremost key to finding true love."
It is also worth noting that the stage set uses minimalist cardboard to create the furniture and surrounding scenery. Despite the story taking place in a wealthy household, the design intentionally carries a "cheap" look.
"The paper set matches the absurd tone of the play," explains stage designer Austin Wang. "Presenting a 3D effect in a 2D form also echoes the play's central theme of identity disguise."
The performance is with English subtitles.
Performance info:
Dates: August 21-23, 2:30pm/7:30pm
Tickets: 100-480 yuan
Venue: Theater Above 上剧场
Address: 5/F, 1111 Zhaojiabang Road 肇嘉浜路1111号5楼