DRAMA STARS: Lu Xiaoping (right), director of the comedy, introduces performers after a show in Beijing on May 29 (CFP)

Breaking boundaries

As Wen's mentor, Lu wanted her thesis to promote the modernization of Chinese intellectual thought. "We must cross the threshold and stride toward independent thinking," he explained.

"What I wanted to describe is the permanent dilemma faced by Chinese intellectuals, which has persisted despite modernization," the playwright noted.

The play reveals the difficulty of retaining dignity and independence while confronting those in power during the turbulent 1940s. Chiang's dinner invitation is a moral test for the three professors, Shi Rendao, Xia Xiaoshan and Bian Congzhou, who ended up having a terrible argument due to differing political views.

Left-leaning Shi, hates Chiang, who killed a student, for his despotic rule. Nevertheless, the professor wants to ask Chiang to ship back a box of books he left behind during the university's retreat from Nanjing to Chongqing, prior to Nanjing's seizure by the Japanese forces.

Xia, on the other hand, recognizes Chiang as a leader of the country, but thinks he is unqualified as university president. However, as a crazed food lover, he is keen to taste a famous dish on the menu.

In turn, Bian is a government supporter who tries his best to persuade the rest to accept the invitation, only to be condemned as a flatterer.

"I wanted to lay bare preconceived roles in society. Intellectuals are always seen as spiritual leaders, but rarely have the necessary qualities. This is a permanent paradox," Wen said.

The story surrounding the play has existed at Nanjing University since the 1940s. However, as Wen researched the topic, she found it to be more legend than truth.

"Since there was no historical evidence, I had space for my imagination," she said.

Drama in peril?

With the comedy's success, Wen received a recommendation to pursue postgraduate studies at Nanjing University.

As for how she will spend the money made from the show, "Professor Lu told me it might buy me a car or even an apartment. I don't know. The play has done well and I'd like to share its success with my parents by taking them out for dinner."

"The Invitation of Chiang Kai-shek is a very personal piece, with no other interests involved. We didn't follow the routine of constructing heroes. Instead we put the professors on the rack and exposed their hearts," Lu explained.

"The play is my first complete work. I have never published anything before in my life. The interesting thing is, after more than 30 performances, I was given a Newcomer's Award, which made me kind of sad," Wen said.

"Many of my classmates are more gifted than me, but their works may not be suitable for commercial purposes. Or they are not lucky enough to hit on a clever subject," she added. "It is common for gifted people not to get a chance to expose their talent, but chances can't be this few. The problem must be the environment."

Wen pointed out that unlike in developed countries that provide certain subsidies for drama, in China, it is all or nothing.

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