Love is updated

The hugely popular Green Ray Theatre Company (綠光劇團) makes a welcome return to the National Theater this weekend with a revamped and reworked production of its hit satirical comedy Blame it on the Draft (都是當兵惹的禍).

By calling on the talents of renowned movie and television commercial director Wu Nien-jen (吳念真), who last worked with the troupe on Women need Love not Understanding (女人要愛不要懂), Green Ray's latest venture will wow audiences with its wonderful score and is guaranteed to raise more than a few laughs with its comedic take on military service and the effects it has on relationships.

Established in 1993 by playwright Luo Bei-an (羅北安), Green Ray Theatre began life as a low budget repertory company performing mainstream dramas at small independent theaters in and around Taipei. In 1994 the group's production of Neck Ties and High Heeled Shoes (領帶與高跟鞋) saw the troupe blending contemporary music with dance, drama and heavy doses of social commentary. It proved an overnight success.

Hailed by critics and audiences the production transformed the former fringe theater troupe into one of Taiwan's leading theatrical groups almost overnight.

Green Ray's most popular productions have over the years been those that have blended age-old Chinese storylines with modern day social commentary and satire.

"Since the troupe's initial success 12 years ago it has become one of the most versatile groups in Taiwan," said Green Ray's Joyce Chiou (邱瑗). "We not only tackle more standard forms of theater, but also try to develop new and more outlandish works. We've undertaken standard Chinese musicals as well as producing works that are part stage play and part farce, in which we touch on many issues relative to modern day life."

Along with its ability to successfully combine highly contrasting forms of entertainment, the troupe also employs cutting edge theatrical techniques with fantastical stage sets and eccentric costumes in order to add an even greater sense of outlandishness to its productions.

Adapted from the Yuan dynasty (1279 to 1368) opera Shi Junbao (石君寶), Blame it on the Draft was first brought to the stage of the Experimental Theater by Green Ray in 1995. Now, nearly a decade after it was first staged Luo and Wu have breathed new life into the production. Instead of opting for an opera-trained cast they have employed a contrasting cast of players.

The revamped production of Blame it on the Draft sees Beijing opera stars Li Shao-ping (李小平) and Lang Tzu-ming (郎祖明) joining forces for the first time with acclaimed traditional Chinese stand-up comic and star of countless sitcoms Lang Tzu-yun (郎祖筠), plus comedian Fan Guang-yao (樊光耀), who was last seen portraying the unlucky and unshaven guy on recent TV commercials for the online shopping Web site Ebay.

Blame it on the Draft follows the trials and tribulations of Chiu Hu (Li Shao-ping), who, the day after marrying the beautiful Mei Ying (Lang Tzu-yun) is drafted into the army to begin his 10 years of military service. After completing his service and successfully surviving the military regimen Chiu Hu hurries home to be with the woman he still loves but hasn't seen for a decade.

All, however, is not well, as Mei Ying has found another suitor in the form of the evil minded and unscrupulous Li Da-hu (Lang Tzu-ming). Upon discovering his wife's duplicity Chiu Hu sets out to win her back. In the process he finds himself trying to outwit his wife's self-serving suitor in more ways than he initially expected.