Comic Opera Tomtom Performed by Chinese and Austrian Students

This year is the China Year in Austria. Scores of activities organized by the two sides have increased Austrian people’s understanding of China and deepened the friendship between the people of the two countries. One of these activities, the joint performance of a comic opera Tomtom in English---an exchange project between the middle school students of the two countries, achieved great success and added rich colours to the China Year in Austria.

Through the CPAFFC and the Austrian Association for Promotion of Friendship and Cultural Relations with China (AAPFCRC) and with the help of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Beijing Dongcheng District People’s Government, the Beijing No. 171 Middle School and High School Wasa in Vienna established exchange relations in 2005. To bring into play the enthusiasm of the students for exchange and carry out substantial cooperation between the two schools, the Austrian side proposed that the two sides organize a joint performance of Tomtom, the comic opera adapted from the Austrian cartoon series of the same name.

The cartoon series are created by Thomas Hostron, a graduate of High School Wasa. The story goes like this: a little boy Tomtom, a little girl Tomtomette and a snail accidentally obtain a map of hidden treasures of the Beijing Dragon Temple. They are determined to go to China to find them. Meanwhile, Scoundrel Black Jack also wants to get the treasures. The two sides test their strength in time and space, in the forests, on the Mars and in the Stone Age.

The proposal met with warm response from the Beijing No. 171 Middle School. From the end of 2005, the No. 171 Middle School organized its students to adapt the cartoon series into a comic opera and communicated with High School Wasa many times on the content. Leading members of the school made a special trip to Vienna to consult with High School Wasa on concrete matters. Upon returning home, they selected 20 high school students who spoke good English to play in the comic opera. Instructed by the noted director of the Beijing People’s Art Theatre Meng Jinghui, the students improved their performing skills remarkably and added to the original text the contents related to the Beijing Olympic Games, Peking Opera masks, Chinese martial art, folk dances, erhu (two-stringed musical instrument) used in Peking Opera and calligraphy in order to demonstrate the traditional Chinese culture.

In May this year, a delegation consisting of 24 teachers and students of No. 171 Middle School went to Vienna, the music capital of the world, for the performance. They received warm welcome from the headmaster of High School Wasa and the AAPFCRC. They visited High School Wasa, rehearsed with the Austrian performers, toured scenic spots and lived in the homes of Austrian students.

On the evening of May 4, the seven-act comic opera Tomtom was staged at KINO Theatre in Vienna. Lu Yonghua, Chinese ambassador to Austria, Dr. Gerd Kaminski, executive vice president of the AAPFCRC, and the head of the Ninth District of Vienna, among more than 300 people watched the opera. At the end of the performance, prolonged applause broke out from the audience.

Over 20 teachers, students and their parents of High School Wasa made a return visit to China from July 11 to 17. Katharina Cortolezis-Schalger, member of the Vienna City Council in charge of education, came with the delegation especially to watch the opera. CPAFFC Vice President Jing Dunquan met with and entertained chief members of the delegation.

On July 16, the students of the two countries staged Tomtom once more in the auditorium of the Beijing Shijia Primary School. Relevant leaders of the CPAFFC, the Beijing Municipal People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Beijing Dongcheng District People’s Government, the Austrian Embassy in China and more than 400 people watched the show. It was also a great success. People were reluctant to leave after repeated encores by the Chinese and Austrian performers. They were moved by the innocence of the children and the painstaking efforts they had made.

The performance is over, but it has left unforgettable memory on the children. Perhaps the words of a performer from No. 171 Middle School could best expressed the feelings of these children. He wrote: “In performing the comic opera Tomtom, a form that students like, both the Chinese and Austrian students have greatly enjoyed themselves and forged profound friendship in their enjoyment.”