TV Show Digest
The show revolves around eight highly skilled theatre artists that haven’t broken through the theatre scene. They are living in the midst of a dull Theatre Commune on the outskirts of Wuzhen, an ancient river town in eastern Zhejiang province, which receives acclaim for its annual theatre festival. Over several weeks, the theatre professionals document their daily lives while rehearsing and performing a drama that helps cover their rent and food costs.
The Feel-Good Part
The show’s tone is quite wholesome, despite articulating the nature of the artists’ lives, which have been anything but easy-going and joyful. The show has a vital purpose, which is to remind the audience about the difficulties Chinese theatre artists face because of the declining profits of the industry. Some episodes of the show have resulted in tear-jerking performances, which is refreshing to watch in a Variety show as these kinds of shows usually focus more on comedy than on anything else. They do an excellent job of making the performers sympathetic and put a spotlight on their respective talents, which makes the show an enjoyable and insightful experience. They show the lives of theatre artists with realistic elements, which help the audience understand the craft of acting better. The performers are seen busking and doing other odd jobs to earn money for the day, which is heartbreaking yet realistic. The show tackles essential subjects and themes but still manages to entertain as it is hilarious and never lets the audience dwell in the dull moments. Overall, the show is easy-going, breezy, and wholesome.
The Disappointing Factor
There aren’t many shortcomings of the show as it has a simple structure and great performances. However, there are certain dull moments scattered throughout the show, which become a little uninteresting as they delve too much into the daily lives of the performers. The show would have benefited from having more episodes and activities as it would have helped the audience connect with the performers better.
In-Depth Analysis
The series is a true crowd pleaser. People of all ages will find something in the show that is worth watching, whether it’s the emotional performances or the funny skits. The meaningful intent of the show comes through, especially after the theatre industry was hit by COVID and oversees theatre productions are being given more importance and funding than in-house Chinese ones. It shines a light on the condition of the performers trying to survive in this industry while promoting their talent and other performers like them.
Star Power
All the performances were phenomenal. Each artist had something new to bring to the table and was a treat to watch onscreen.
Overall Opinion
Theatre for Living is a show which is insightful yet entertaining. It will grab the audience’s attention from the very beginning and have them hooked from the first episode. This is the perfect pick for people who are looking for something wholesome and entertaining to watch.
