Nanjing's 2025 limited edition musical "Mask" is a soul-dissecting artistic feast rooted in the cultural heritage of Nanjing. Focusing on the question of "truth and disguise beneath the mask," it weaves a moving narrative of Republican turmoil with contemporary reflections, family secrets, and individual struggles. Performed at professional venue such as the Nanjing Poly Grand Theatre, this limited edition production, created specifically for Nanjing, not only continues the tradition of exploring human nature through the imagery of "masks," but also deeply incorporates local cultural symbols such as the Qinhuai River and Laomendong. Through the melody and plot, audiences can understand the memories of a city and the spiritual dilemmas of a group of people.

The deep infusion of Nanjing elements makes the plot a tangible urban memory. Set in an antique shop along the Qinhuai River in Nanjing during the Republican era, the story unfolds, recounting the Su family's inherited mask-making skills, and the hidden entanglements of love and hate across three generations, as well as the pain of the times. The young master of the Su family dons the mask of "duty" to protect the family's secrets; a singing girl on the Qinhuai River masks her life's sorrows with a mask of "free spirit"; and a Military Intelligence Bureau agent masks his inner struggles with a mask of "loyalty." The show's locations are reminiscent of Nanjing: the bluestone pavements of Laomendong, the lanterns of Confucius Temple, and the gray bricks and tiles of the Presidential Palace are recreated through stage design. Even the dialogue is interspersed with colloquial terms like "salted duck" and "duck blood vermicelli soup." The theme music, adapted from the melody of "Jasmine Flower," instantly connects with local audiences. The limited edition features a special "Moonlit Night in Taicheng" scene, where the moonlight by Xuanwu Lake reveals the ultimate secrets hidden beneath the protagonists' masks, a uniquely Nanjing-themed highlight.

The multi-dimensional interpretation of "mask imagery" builds a dramatic tension between appearance and sincerity. Unlike traditional works that use masks as a single symbol, this play divides masks into two dimensions: "physical masks" and "spiritual masks." Physically, the props team reproduced masks from the Six Dynasties and Nuo opera collections of the Nanjing Museum. The "golden thread and twig pattern mask" worn by the protagonist features a hidden mechanism when opened and closed, creating a visual spectacle of "a smile turning into a cry" through changing lighting. On a more spiritual level, the plot unfolds layer by layer through the characters' lyrics and actions. In the "Under the Mask" segment, the male lead's trembling voice recites "tears beneath a smiling face, a heart within a hard shell." As the mask slips off, the lights suddenly dim and brighten, embodying the inner collapse. This design continues the deep exploration of human nature found in similar works, but resonates more closely with contemporary people's understanding of "social masks." As an audience member commented, "Each character is like a mirror, reflecting the self behind the mask."

The immersive fusion of music and stage design creates a visual and auditory experience. The composing team created 16 original tracks in a blend of Eastern and Western styles. The performance features a fusion of Suzhou Pingtan and orchestral music in "Qinhuai Nocturne," depicting the romantic life of the Republican era with graceful melodies, while "Mask Cracks" interweaves rock elements with operatic vocals, revealing inner struggles with explosive melodies. The stage design incorporates an innovative "revolving stage + matrix lighting." The revolving stage rapidly switches scenes, creating a time-space transition from commercial buildings to the Qinhuai River, from the Republican era to the present day. The matrix lighting projected light and shadow effects such as "mask outlines" and "fractured lines" in response to the plot. When the protagonist sings "Tear off the mask to reveal my true self," the "mask light and shadow" composed of thousands of light points instantly shatters, creating a powerful visual impact. The limited edition also incorporates holographic projection technology, allowing virtual reflections of the Qinhuai River to flow across the stage, echoing with the actors' dance movements, creating an immersive experience of "swimming in a painting."

Limited-edition exclusive designs and extended experiences. Before the performance, a "Mask Theme Exhibition" was set up outside the Nanjing Poly Grand Theatre, showcasing original prop masks from the play and "story masks" collected by the public. Audience members were invited to write their own "mask-related stories" and post them on an interactive wall. During the performance, a local Nanjing actor guest-starred as the "Old Tea Drinker," delivering lines in authentic Nanjing dialect, elicited a smile from the audience. After the performance, a limited-edition "meet-and-greet the Creators" session was held, where the director and lead actors explained the creative ingenuity of Nanjing elements and demonstrated the mechanisms of the mask props. The exclusive cultural and creative area also offered Nanjing-exclusive merchandise: mask bookmarks engraved with the Qinhuai River, music boxes incorporating the melody of "Qinhuai Nocturne," and admission ticket redeemable for "Republic of China-style Mask Photography Vouchers," allowing audiences to continue the artistic experience beyond the theater.

From the Republican era stories along the Qinhuai River to the resonance of contemporary audiences, from the visual spectacle of masks opening and closing to the heart-wrenching melodies, the Nanjing Limited Edition of "Mask" transcends the boundaries of ordinary musicals. It is an original masterpiece rooted in Nanjing's cultural heritage, a profound inquiry into human nature, and an artistic extravaganza unique to Nanjing audiences. Every lyric is filled with heart, and every mask opening and closing tugs at the heartstrings, allowing audiences to embark on a spiritual journey of "unmasking" in this visual and auditory feast on the night of Nanjing.

Time:	5月18日 (UTC+8) ENDED
Location:	南京文化藝術中心音樂廳

2024（第五屆）江蘇國際鋼琴大師音樂盛典 之 突尼斯鋼琴大師吉恩·馬克·路易沙達電影之夜獨奏音樂會|音樂會 | 南京文化藝術中心音樂廳

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