In her interpretation of the play, Luo says she believes it was Du who lured Liu into her world before making him fall passionately in love with her.

"I even thought maybe Liu was not the first young scholar she came across," Luo writes in the notes for her adaptation. "Maybe countless young scholars had dreamed of meeting the beautiful Du beneath the blooming plum tree, which was actually the cry for help of a trapped soul in the grave.

"None of them succeeded, maybe because they were terrified of the ghost, or afraid to break the rules. Only this last young man had complete faith in love and left behind all concerns about the barrier between life and death.

"This unwavering love was the ray of light that broke the endless night, and brought relief to her undead soul, which had been trapped in the endless cycle searching for love."

Luo Huaizhen, a renowned playwright and vice-chairman of the Shanghai Dramatists Association, praised Luo Zhou's adaptation of Peony Pavilion.

"Most previous adaptations just cut the play short, but in Luo Zhou's edition, I found the interpretation of a contemporary playwright. She has found a new expression different from all others."

He praises the director of the production, Ma Junfeng, whose previous creations include Kunqu Opera production Six Chapters of a Floating Life, and Blossoms, a modern play adapted from the novel of the same title by Jin Yucheng.

"Many of us are used to the old values, and often turn a blind eye to the new sprouts of life. Ma is different," Luo Huaizhen says. He describes Ma as a director with a natural sensitivity to classic art.

Luo Huaizhen points out that, compared to traditional Chinese-style theaters, the venue of Shanghai Grand Theater, which was built to host symphonies, Western operas and ballet, is a more appropriate stage for today's Kunqu Opera productions. He explains that modern theaters designs, such as that of this theater, can amplify theatrical effects and draw audiences closer to the performance, thus initiating a more intimate interaction between audiences and the performers.

Contact the writer at zhangkun@chinadaily.com.cn

If you go

Peony Pavilion

7:15 pm, Aug 10-14.Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu district, Shanghai.021-6386-8686.

Audiences are required to present their green health QR code and 72-hour negative nucleic acid test result for entry. Those without smartphones can apply for an offline health code in advance and show their identification cards.