Mamma mia, here we go again. Following the shift of manufacturers from west to east, it is the entertainment industry’s turn to make the long march to China: on Monday, the musical based on Abba’s hit songs premiered in Shanghai – the first West End show to be performed in Mandarin.

　　《妈妈咪呀！》又来了。继制造业自西向东转移之后，这次轮到娱乐业踏上前往中国的长征之路：7月8日，这部基于Abba乐队畅销歌曲的音乐剧，在上海举行了首演——这也是首部以普通话表演的伦敦西区音乐剧。

　　That western companies are falling over each other to gain a foothold in Asia is not surprising. How can they resist it? Money money money is surely on the mind of the Chinese hosts as well: the show is produced by the state-owned China Arts and Entertainment Group. Spandex jumpsuits and cheesy Swedish pop have long enjoyed great and inexplicable success in the west. But can the musical count on a similar reception in China?

　　西方公司竞相在亚洲立足并不奇怪。他们怎能抗拒这一诱惑？中国主办方肯定也满脑子想得都是钱：该剧的制作方是国有的中国对外文化集团公司(CAEG)。剧中的弹力连体裤和俗气的瑞典流行音乐，在西方令人费解地轰动了好多年。但这部剧有望在中国取得类似的成功吗？

　　There is no denying the Chinese enthusiasm for western theatre. Shakespeare’s works have long circulated in China, and when Wen Jiabao visited the UK last month, the Chinese premier insisted on visiting Stratford-upon-Avon to see the Royal Shakespeare Company. Yet it is still a bold decision to foist a frothy rhinestoned comedy on a country once more used to being subjected to revolutionary epics and government-sanctioned operas.

　　无可否认中国人对于西方戏剧的热情。莎士比亚的著作在中国流传已久，中国总理温家宝上月出访英国时，就坚持访问了莎士比亚的故乡埃文河畔斯特拉特福德，观看了英国皇家莎士比亚剧团(Royal Shakespeare Company)的表演。但在这个一度更习惯于革命史诗和经过政府审查的歌剧的国家，兜售这样一部包装华丽、轻松热闹但内容空洞的喜剧，仍然是一个大胆的决定。

　　The producer had problems translating the songs into a tonal language. At one point, “subversive” became “counter-revolutionary” – a bit of a faux pas so soon after the Communist party of China’s 90th anniversary. But the production has been cleaned up and now includes Shanghai slang, Mongolian folk dancing and a special Twisting Yanko dance.

　　在把原歌词翻译成带声调的普通话时，制作方遇到了不少难题。比方说，“subversive”（颠覆的）这个词一度被译成了“反革命”——鉴于中国共产党不久前刚刚庆祝了建党90周年，这实在有欠考虑。但现在整出剧现已彻底改头换面，融入了上海俚语、蒙族舞蹈和秧歌舞。

　　So far, the show has had a glowing welcome. We are familiar with China adopting western luxury products such as fast cars, premier whisky and “man bags”. Chinese consumers are clearly willing to embrace a strikingly gaudy facet of western culture as well. Judging by its popularity, this step away from the cult of beauty will not be the last. Expect more musicals to take a chance on China soon.

　　迄今为止，该剧受到了热烈欢迎。我们都清楚中国人对于跑车、精品威士忌和男士手袋等西方奢侈品的欣然接纳。中国消费者显然也很愿意接受西方文化中极为花哨俗气的一面。以该剧在中国的人气判断，这不会是中国人在崇拜美的道路上最后一次出现偏差。预计很快就会有更多的音乐剧去中国碰运气。