Play by A. Arbuzov Old-fashioned comedy in China: Theater and Critical Reception

The article discusses the issue of reception of Russian drama of the 20th century in China on the basis of the theatrical and critical reception of A. Arbuzov’s play Old-Fashioned Comedy , which was repeatedly staged in theaters of the country at different cultural and historical stages and in recent years has again been in demand among theatrical figures and audiences. An analysis of the performances of a well-known text, reviews and readers' reactions to it make it possible not only to trace changes in the perception of the play in a foreign cultural space, but also to examine the social processes that cause such changes, as well as to touch upon the theatrical life itself and stage experiments in China. The conclusion is made that the universal human content of the playwright's plays, the timeless values that are affirmed in his work, and the inherent scenicity, the organic nature of the dramatic language help to successfully adapt the author’s works not only to the modern Russian theater, but also for the foreign language ones. An example of a successful dialogue of cultures in the theatrical and dramatic sphere is the stage history of the play Old-Fashioned Comedy in China.