Catch Donnie Fan’s New Play The Heart Collector This February
You may recognize Donnie Fan as one of Beijing’s top comedians and the co-founder of the Comedy Citadel, however it isn’t just in comedy where Fan’s talents lie. He’s also a writer and director and his new play The Heart Collector will begin showing in Beijing from Feb 1. This is Fan’s second play, after he wrote and directed Medea which was performed in Beijing back in January 2022. A passion project that’s been in the back of Fan’s mind for years, we reached out to Fan to find out more.
Please note that the play will be performed in Chinese but they are planning on having English subtitles to accompany the performance.
Firstly, can you give us a brief introduction as to what The Heart Collector is about?
The Heart Collector follows the journey of two tiny beings: a heart-collecting scientist on a quest to unravel the mystery of her existence, and an adventurous soul reveling in the purity of the world. Their unexpected union leads to an encounter with a boy whose heart is broken. United by a common goal, they embark on a mission to mend his heart, discovering profound truths about themselves and each other along the way.
Where did the idea for this play come from?
Back in 2016, I had this wild dream about a tiny creature going around snagging people's hearts and studying them to find the perfect match. I tried making it into a web series, but it hit snags because I didn't have the right setup. Then, out of the blue in mid-2023, someone asked if I had any passion projects that needed funding. I was skeptical at first, thinking it was a joke, but this story, simple as it is, has stuck with me since day one. I even made shirts and stuff for it back in 2016. After finishing up Medea in January 2022, I felt comfortable finally bringing this story to life on stage.
This will be the second play you’ve written/directed, how does it feel different than the first time around?
This is a great question! Medea was a one act play, we didn’t have to work on stage changes, costume changes, etc. Medea also had one interactive prop: a rock. This play is a little overwhelming, I’m tackling a lot of challenges, such as with size. My characters are supposed to be around the size of a blade of grass, so we need props that show that size discrepancy, but we also have a character who is a regular human. There’s been so many more challenges and expectations. I might have a great idea and my actors look at me like I’m nuts. But then I have an idea that I feel is nuts and they’re like THAT’S AWESOME! So it’s just been really challenging and pushing the creative juices. Ultimately, I am really proud of Medea, but of anything I’ve done I think I’m most proud to see The Heart Collector come together. I’ve nurtured this story for nearly seven years. It’s worth the headaches!
Can you introduce the team behind the play?
Director/Screenwriter Donnie Fan: stand-up comedian, director, writer and versatile person, Fan somehow succeeded in stand-up comedy, a form he never dared try as a young adult, when every story he had previously written was about death and being emo.
Assistant Director/Jack-of-all-trades Xiao Se: a screenwriter and director. Seven years ago, when she first met Donnie, she discovered that they had matching tattoos. At that moment, she felt like they could collaborate for a lifetime.
Xiao Hou played by Alex Zou: a Chinese-American actor and director currently based in Beijing. He once skateboarded 300 kilometers from Boston to New York City for fun.
Xiao Nao played by Scarlett Wang: the embodiment of Xiao Nao herself, mean, sharp and fearful of love, she has never once had long hair in her life.
Emergency stand-in actress Yi Yi Li: a Chinese actor and college acting teacher currently based in Beijing. When she was in college, she shaved her head to get a feel for life as a cancer patient.
Can you tell us a bit about the audition process?
The casting process was a whirlwind! Scarlett's initial audition for Xiao Nao was a bull's-eye—she had 70 percent of the script memorized, captured the essence I envisioned, and bore a resemblance to a late '90s Winona Ryder. Alex initially passed due to other commitments but eventually became the perfect fit for Xiao Hou after heartfelt discussions and a bit of convincing. His dedication and understanding of the character shone through after our first-choice actor dropped out. J and Mu Re beautifully showcased different sides of Tian Zhen's innocence, while YiYi, an emergency stand-in recommended by our lighting director, seamlessly melded into our rehearsals with remarkable talent and enthusiasm.
I love the posters for the play, who did the artwork for them?
AO Wen (文其源) is our art designer. She’s a true find! The art style and direction were decided back in 2016, but AO’s classic style of art was a real selling point for me. She’s done both the animation of the posters and a special easter egg video animation that wraps up our story at the end of the play. Additionally, she is crafting out a comic book and various merchandise that will be available for purchase on-site!
Who is the play for?
The Heart Collector's story isn't convoluted, yet it resonates with a profound sincerity. Each character not only embodies their role but also intimately connects with their character's essence in real life. As an artist, I've been fortunate with opportunities on stage, telling jokes or stories that I hope can have a lasting influence in the audience’s memories. When I was a teenager I always hoped I would have the kind of impact that authors like Stephen Chbosky or Goethe had on me.
While The Heart Collector may not be the next The Perks of Being a Wallflower, at a special screening, an eight-year-old remarked, "This play is about love. It made me know love is real," leaving a profound impact. Another, around 24, expressed how the play revived a youthful spirit she thought she was losing. These heartfelt reactions move me deeply. Creating universal art is challenging; this may not resonate with everyone, but I believe this is for an audience that isn’t afraid to reconnect with hope, love, and youthful innocence. I simultaneously hope that our younger audience can know it’s okay to hold on to those feelings as well, and not let this cynical world hold them back!
The Heart Collector will be showing at Nanyang Theater on Feb 1-3 at 7.15pm, Feb 4 at 2.15pm, Feb 15-17 at 7.15pm, Feb 18 at 2.15pm and Feb 22-24 at 7.15pm. Tickets are RMB 208-308 and can be purchased by scanning the QR code in the poster above.
Nanyang Theater南阳共享际剧场
6 Nanyang Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区南阳胡同6号
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Images: courtesy of Donnie Fan
