Mamma mia, here we go again. Following the shift of manufacturers from west to east, it is the entertainment industry’s turn to make the long march to China: on Monday, the musical based on Abba’s hit songs premiered in Shanghai – the first West End show to be performed in Mandarin.

　　《媽媽咪呀！》又來了。繼制造業(yè)自西向東轉(zhuǎn)移之后，這次輪到娛樂業(yè)踏上前往中國的長征之路：7月8日，這部基于Abba樂隊(duì)暢銷歌曲的音樂劇，在上海舉行了首演——這也是首部以普通話表演的倫敦西區(qū)音樂劇。

　　That western companies are falling over each other to gain a foothold in Asia is not surprising. How can they resist it? Money money money is surely on the mind of the Chinese hosts as well: the show is produced by the state-owned China Arts and Entertainment Group. Spandex jumpsuits and cheesy Swedish pop have long enjoyed great and inexplicable success in the west. But can the musical count on a similar reception in China?

　　西方公司競相在亞洲立足并不奇怪。他們?cè)跄芸咕苓@一誘惑？中國主辦方肯定也滿腦子想得都是錢：該劇的制作方是國有的中國對(duì)外文化集團(tuán)公司(CAEG)。劇中的彈力連體褲和俗氣的瑞典流行音樂，在西方令人費(fèi)解地轟動(dòng)了好多年。但這部劇有望在中國取得類似的成功嗎？

　　There is no denying the Chinese enthusiasm for western theatre. Shakespeare’s works have long circulated in China, and when Wen Jiabao visited the UK last month, the Chinese premier insisted on visiting Stratford-upon-Avon to see the Royal Shakespeare Company. Yet it is still a bold decision to foist a frothy rhinestoned comedy on a country once more used to being subjected to revolutionary epics and government-sanctioned operas.

　　無可否認(rèn)中國人對(duì)于西方戲劇的熱情。莎士比亞的著作在中國流傳已久，中國總理溫家寶上月出訪英國時(shí)，就堅(jiān)持訪問了莎士比亞的故鄉(xiāng)埃文河畔斯特拉特福德，觀看了英國皇家莎士比亞劇團(tuán)(Royal Shakespeare Company)的表演。但在這個(gè)一度更習(xí)慣于革命史詩和經(jīng)過政府審查的歌劇的國家，兜售這樣一部包裝華麗、輕松熱鬧但內(nèi)容空洞的喜劇，仍然是一個(gè)大膽的決定。

　　The producer had problems translating the songs into a tonal language. At one point, “subversive” became “counter-revolutionary” – a bit of a faux pas so soon after the Communist party of China’s 90th anniversary. But the production has been cleaned up and now includes Shanghai slang, Mongolian folk dancing and a special Twisting Yanko dance.

　　在把原歌詞翻譯成帶聲調(diào)的普通話時(shí)，制作方遇到了不少難題。比方說，“subversive”（顛覆的）這個(gè)詞一度被譯成了“反革命”——鑒于中國共產(chǎn)黨不久前剛剛慶祝了建黨90周年，這實(shí)在有欠考慮。但現(xiàn)在整出劇現(xiàn)已徹底改頭換面，融入了上海俚語、蒙族舞蹈和秧歌舞。

　　So far, the show has had a glowing welcome. We are familiar with China adopting western luxury products such as fast cars, premier whisky and “man bags”. Chinese consumers are clearly willing to embrace a strikingly gaudy facet of western culture as well. Judging by its popularity, this step away from the cult of beauty will not be the last. Expect more musicals to take a chance on China soon.

　　迄今為止，該劇受到了熱烈歡迎。我們都清楚中國人對(duì)于跑車、精品威士忌和男士手袋等西方奢侈品的欣然接納。中國消費(fèi)者顯然也很愿意接受西方文化中極為花哨俗氣的一面。以該劇在中國的人氣判斷，這不會(huì)是中國人在崇拜美的道路上最后一次出現(xiàn)偏差。預(yù)計(jì)很快就會(huì)有更多的音樂劇去中國碰運(yùn)氣。