曹植
Cao Zhi
Graduate Production
(Acting Class of 2015 and Stage Design Class of 2015)
Role: Leading Set Designer
Time: Dec.14-Dec.19, 2014
Venue: Academy Theatre (No.630 Huashan Road)
Theatre Synopsis: A procenium stage of 11.7m wide and 18m deep
(With this production, we used the backstage to extend the stage 6m deeper)
Procenium Arch Height: 7.5m
Two independent levels of orchestra
Seat Capacity: 999
Cao Zhi is a prince of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period and an accomplished poet in his time. The play begins in the royal court with Cao Zhi beating his elder brother, Cao Pi, in a poem competition. According to the primogeniture system, Cao Pi should be the legitemate heir. However their father appreciates Cao Zhi's gift in poetry, which makes Cao Zhi a potential competitor. Pi's mistress Chunzi is in love with Cao Zhi before she was married to Cao Pi. Cao Zhi has ideal concepts of running the country. He also values the bond with his brother since they grow up together. Yet when he becomes the commander in place of his father, Cao Pi set him up with hallucinogen. After the minister died, Cao Pi becomes the new emperor and establishes Wei. Then a series of slaughters begin.
Cao Pi is determined to become a powerful emperor and there is nothing that could stop him from ruling this country.
He firmly believes that whoever not on his side is an enemy. Thus he wiped out all his competitors and opposers, including another brother of his. Being able to survive the hunt, Cao Zhi shows up at the Bronze Swallow Terrace. Cao Pi, in the imperial robe, names a task--- in seven steps, make a poem about brother without mentioning "brother", or die failing that. In great grieve, Zhi speaks out his most famous poem. Regardless of the queen's opposition, Pi sentences Cao Zhi to death for his writings against the court. The story ends when Chunzi jumps off the lake instead.
It is a dilemma of good and evil, conquest and evolution. Through the struggles, choices are made.
Each one’s fate is determined by his personality.
All the slaughters come from the desire for the throne.
The crave for authority and power drives them towards the vertical road.
