The age of the "honest man" has finally arrived. Amid a rapidly changing society and seemingly paradoxical culture of consumerism during a global financial crisis, stable and reliable are now what the ladies want, as explained in Marry An Honest Man, Li Bonan's exciting new dramatic work now being performed at Beijing People's Art Theatre and Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center until Sunday.

And what exactly is an "honest man?" According to Li's play, he is simply "practical and economically stable." Not exciting, just dependable, and Marry An Honest Man is letting us know that dependable is "in." More specifically, an "honest man" should have a steady job earning 3,000 yuan ($ 439.20) to 10,000 yuan ($ 1,464) per month, able to afford a down payment on a house and a non-smoker, non-drinker and non-gambler with no ambiguous female friend relationships. In other words, just a regular working nice guy.

"There have always been these kind of men, and we as a society are just now defining them as a group," said Li. "I've been inspired by Beijing's 'practical and economically stable' men for a long time. But even though they might live normal happy lives on the surface, I can sense their deep anxiety and inner pain, and the play explores the high pressure and stress they deal with on a daily basis."

Along with How Much Love Can Be (2006) and Left-over Lady (2008), this third installment of the Beijing-based veteran director's love trilogy continues to focus on the emotional struggles and tribulations in love of city dwellers everywhere.

However, Marry An Honest Man not only addresses relationships, but also is a commentary on other social changes both men and women are facing today. "It seems urbanites are just enveloped by consumerism and barraged with advertisements, all the while trying to keep up with changing moral and social values. I hope this play will reveal what is important in life, to drop all that materialism and teach them to cherish what they already have," Li explained.


Scenes from Marry An Honest Man.
Li Bonan initially established his artistic style while studying at the Central Academy of Drama, one of the premier performing arts institutes in China. His first work, How Much Love Can Be, is a true representation of his style and was a box office success that ignited a round of off-Broadway triumphs. He then experimented and expanded his range of subject matter with plays like I Want to Be Famous, I'm not My Girlfriend's Boyfriend and the Left-over Lady, winning acclaim as the box office champion of off-Broadway in 2008.

"Art should be something that can embraced by the public, so I don't want to distance myself from them with overly-affected storylines or language," said Li. He attributes his success in recent years to keeping in touch with the times and writing true-to-life stories which people can relate to.

"Off-Broadway makes up a lot of the market because of its intimacy; it lessens the distance between actor and audience," said Li. "Also there is more room to experiment at smaller venues."


Scenes from Marry An Honest Man.
Li will continue chronicling the life of the urbanite in his upcoming sequel, Marry An Honest Man II, which continues the story of the "practical and economically stable man" striking it rich and the family conflicts that ensue once money is involved.

Source: The Global Times