A Shanghai love story

• Source: Global Times
• [21:55 December 22 2009]
• Comments

Shanghai comedian Zhou Libo, 42, started out as a farce actor. Photos: IC

By Wang Weilan in Shanghai

Scalpers were touting tickets at double or triple face value in the bitter winter cold outside West Nanjing Road metro station exit, barely two bustling blocks from the Majestic Theatre.

Across from the theater stands the fragrant Westgate Mall, where the city's notorious fashionistas love to fondle the latest stylish commodities. Standing outside the mall's hefty doors, peddlers held up wads of cash offering to buy any spare tickets for tonight's show.

At 7:30 pm sharp, Zhou Libo's silhouette was projected onto the white canvas at center stage. As the ‘sun' rose up the canvas, the image metamorphosed into that of a national leader, glorious rays beaming in all directions about the canvas. The audience burst into loud laughter.

Finally, the spotlight landed on the night's star. Zhou Libo, 42, has hair parted slightly on the left and gelled down with heavy mousse. He sported a 50,000 yuan white Giorgio Armani suit.

One of Zhou's suits was custom-tailored in Europe, according to his agent Zhou Yi.

Once a farce actor, Zhou's one-man standup in Shanghai dialect is a smash hit in Shanghai.

Zhou recently joked he had refused to participate in the famous Spring Festival Gala TV show alongside popular Beijing comedian Guo Degang.

"I was about to agree, when I thought about you," he told the audience. "I won't go to Beijing and leave the stage here empty.

"I believe the Shanghai people can look after me."