Das Kapital, the musical!

China to unleash 'Marx: the Musical'

SHANGHAI (AFP) - High-kicking Chinese Marxists are set to bring communism's most famous tract to life -- as a musical.

An all-singing, all-dancing stage version of Das Kapital is being produced in Shanghai to show how the thinking of Karl Marx is as relevant in today's economic crisis as when his book was first published in 1867, producers said Monday.

"The entertainment and theatrical elements will help ordinary people better understand why the financial crisis is happening," said Zhang Jun, a Fudan University economics professor, who is an advisor on the production.

He said his role is to ensure Marx's ideas are accurately represented in the stage spectacular.

"I've given an introductory briefing to the crew. They are still working on the script," Zhang added.

"The director, He Nian, will incorporate modern elements in the show to make it easily connect to people's lives and feelings."

The musical will revolve around a group of office workers who discover their boss is exploiting them and each responds differently, the China Daily newspaper reported.

"We will bring (Marx's) economic theories to life in a trendy, interesting and educational play, which will be fun to watch," the paper quoted He as saying.

The show is still in the development stage and would likely debut in the middle of next year at the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, the centre's general manager Yang Shaolin said.

Yang said the idea was inspired by the popularity of a Japanese manga comic book adaptation of "Das Kapital" published in December.

"That's part of the reason why we are confident a theoretical masterpiece can be transformed into something easy-to-understand," Yang told AFP.

Although Marx was austere, the show might adopt a style and panache comparable to Broadway or Las Vegas, he said.

"We will not rule out any kind of performing style as long as it entertains our audience and helps them better understand the book," Yang said.