Can anyone suggest a musical set in China?

We're off for 12 days in China this Tuesday, and that started me thinking that I can't for the life of me name a musical that takes place in China or features it notably in the score.

Am I the only one that fills my ipod with the score to Zorba before I visit Greece or A Little Night Music before exploring Scandinavia? But China's got me stumped (aside from the Chinese-Americans in Flower Drum Song.) Any suggestions out there?

Lute Song

I too do that when I travel, then it can be a soundtrack as you tourist around. For evocative music try NIXON IN CHINA, it's wierd but full of flavor.

Going for the obvious...

Mulan Jr.

---

Any Beijing/Peking or Taiwanese Opera. I'd look for one based on ancient stories and histories.

You can expect your check-in luggage to be thoroughly searched out of your presence and the zippers and fastenings and contents all askew, by the way, whenever you enter or leave China.

Think twice if you plan on routing part of your travel via a Communist Chinese airline carrier. Just don't be surprised if a hole is bashed in the side of your hard luggage (breaking contents inside your luggage as well) as you fly to or transit the Beijing airport on such a carrier, speaking from experience. Even luggage that has survived twenty years of other air travel unscathed.

Even if you go to Hong Kong, which supposedly retains some independence, all the customs and immigration is controlled by the Communists. Remember you are going to a Communist country. You won't be in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.

Hand carry anything you don't want broken or that is at all personal.

Updated On: 8/29/11 at 05:33 PM

There's the musical film version of the legendary Chinese Shangri-La love story Lost Horizon with a Chinese tinged-score by Hal David and Burt Bacharach.

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Horizon-Original-Soundtrack-1973/dp/B000002ZBR/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314566590&sr=1-1

I have this in vinyl and the score isn't as bad as the critics said it was even though most of the star-studded cast were dubbed. I loved this in all its forms: the novel by James Hilton, the classic Ronald Colman film and even this that got lambasted by the critics.

you guys are all giving us invaluable help.

Well, maybe not all of you, but thanks to all regardless. Especial thanks to nomdeplume for your terrifying cautions re the Beijing luggage handlers. We were planning to check luggage on local airlines from Hong Kong to Beijing, then on to Xian, then on to Shanghai. Gotta think twice perhaps...

Only Lute Song rang a bell, but I realize Mary Martin serenading in my ear might not really appropriate as I tour the Forbidden City in any event.

I'm thinking to switch over to the soundtracks of The Last Emperor and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. And maybe a snippet of Mad Dogs and Englishmen for comic relief (I'm certain Noel has a snooty line or two about the Chinese in there somewhere)...

And it should be noted that most of the shows mentioned were written by Westerners or Asians growing up in the western culture, writing for the western audience with their ethnocentric bias of what China (or Asia) should "sound like".

HOT MIKADO:

"If you want to know who we are,
We are gentlemem of JAPAN."




Yes. I guess a sarcasam font is needed...

---

Umm... CharlesJGuiteau, A Little Night Music is based on the film SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT made by legendary SWEDISH director Ingmar Bergman, It's not set or based on anything from Scandinavia.

If you have a choice, I would experience the art, history and culture of Bangkok over Hong Kong any day. The arts, crafts, etc. in Thailand are outstanding. Their music is great. The cuisine far exceeds Chinese cooking. I was wowed. You can ride elephants and tour ancient temples. Buddhist monks wandering all over the country in their saffron robes, just doing their thing. Lots of rivers and boats you can ride with super views.

You hear about Hong Kong and Singapore all the time but they are crowded financial and shopping centers. Hong Kong is expensive and no bargain; shopping is better in NYC. The Communists who have moved there in droves have hurt whatever charm the culture used to have from its British days. Has an interesting History of Hong Kong Museum and when you see the pic of Prince Charles' face of dismay during the handover ceremony of the colony to the Communists you'll understand what's happened to the place. Singapore is a little better but a borderline fascist state. Has a nice Asian Civilizations Museum.

I only saw Beijing from the air and it was so ugly and gray with nothing but rows and rows of what looked like big factory warehouses. It made me not ever want to visit. Now I know you'll want to see the Great Wall and the Emperor's Palace and the Terracotta Army and all that, so I don't mean to disillusion you and I hope you have a great time.

Updated On: 8/28/11 at 11:06 PM

Is "Pacific Overtures" Japan or China?

---

For airlines, I highly recommend the top-rated discount carrier Air Asia which is Malaysian. (You can probably fly that from HK to Beijing.) You have to pay for food or bring your own. You get 30 pounds (15 kilos) carry-on luggage free and have to pay a little surcharge for check-in luggage of an extra 20 kilos. But the price is super, especially if you can catch one of their sales. Cebu Pacific is also a good discount carrier which I have also flown several times.

A flying tip, don't fly the U.S. carriers to Asia. The major Asian carriers have newer planes and better service, at least for now. Use your mileage to fly those carriers instead, which is a deal. I have had great experiences with JAL, ANA (top Japanese carrier), Cathay Pacific and Korean Air. I would also like to fly these highly-rated carriers which I have not yet flown: Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways.

Beware customs in Vietnam. A friend had a camera or cell phone stolen recently from his luggage he believed by their corrupt customs workers. Hand carry all valuables there especially.

Another tip. Watch your time of year if flying to Southeast Asia because it can get very hot, so check average daily temperatures and recommended times to go. Check TripAdvisor for recommendations of where to stay (read the reviews). Stick to the top-rated ones who are rated by many visitors and you should have less worry of theft at your lodging. Book near to your sightseeing destinations. Always get A/C and non-smoking rooms. You can generally get breakfast included free so you don't have to hunt down breakfast before you head out for the day. They'll even advertise American breakfasts which is much better than Continental which is basically only coffee and a croissant or some such rot.

TripAdvisor is also helpful for sightseeing, but be aware that some of the reviews are fakes, or can be written by people who have no cultural interests. I have found some of the pans in the reviews, though, to be very honest, accurate and funny!

If you do go to Hong Kong, stay in the old Kowloon area, or not too far from there. You'll see cheap 5-star hotels advertised but they are far away from the things you may want to do and see.