Chongqing – From August 23 to 25, the stage play The Magic Hour was performed at the Chongqing Shi Guangnan Grand Theater. With its constantly shifting plot, unexpected scene changes, and unique props, the audience was amazed and entertained, laughing heartily throughout. As director Li Ren said, "What I want to convey is a pure and joyful comedy."

The play is adapted from the classic Japanese film of the same name by the "national comedy master" Koki Mitani. The story is full of coincidences and meta-theatrical elements revolving around the tangled relationships between a hotel manager and the lover of a powerful underworld figure.

Still from the stage play The Magic Hour. (Photo/Chongqing Performance Arts Co. Ltd)

On stage, the production's visual style returns to a traditional perspective, honoring the art of theater. Film-like lighting creates cinematic effects, especially in key scenes such as gunfights, musical numbers, and on-set confrontations, making the audience feel like they are on a movie set.

Throughout the performance, the audience's laughter was constant, at times so overwhelming that it drowned out the actors' lines. This laughter wasn't forced; it arose naturally from the characters and plot development. As audience member Huang Wei said, "This laughter isn't about forced tickling but comes from the pure and engaging storytelling and character development."

The adverts for the show complemented the night scene in Chongqing. (Photo/Chongqing Performance Arts Co. Ltd)

With the diversification of audience demands, the performing arts industry in Chongqing is flourishing. Beyond concerts, performances such as dance dramas, stage plays, crosstalk, and sketches have also seen significant growth. The vibrant performing arts market and the growing trend of cross-city performances have become new drivers of economic development, effectively boosting related sectors like culture, tourism, transportation, and accommodation, and generating considerable economic benefits. In Chongqing, large-scale commercial performances attracted nearly 500,000 participants in the first half of this year, driving consumption of over 1.6 billion yuan (about $224.1 million).

According to a representative from Chongqing Reperformance Co., the Shi Guangnan Grand Theatre will also present other popular productions, including the classic mystery play And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, the play Pride and Prejudice adapted from the eponymous novel, and the Broadway musical Chicago, enriching the city's cultural scene.