Reborn in Powder and Paint: A Republic-Era Opera Star Auditions for Stardom

In 1942, Shen Yutang, the star dan performer of Shanghai’s Yanqiu Opera Troupe, set herself on fire onstage in full costume when the Japanese army shut down the theater and tried to force her to sing in support of “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity.” She left behind a final declaration: “The bones of opera may burn, but its spirit will never bend.” When she opens her eyes again, she has become Shen Yutang, the lowest-ranked trainee on the 2024 idol competition show Star Path 101. The original Shen Yutang is beautiful but talentless, buying trending topics to grab attention. She’s a good-for-nothing “favorite of the powers that be,” and has just been harshly criticized by the mentors for slacking onstage.

Armed with the skills and spirit she honed in the Republican era, Shen Yutang takes the stage. At the initial evaluation, her song-and-dance adaptation of the Kunqu opera The Peony Pavilion dazzles everyone. At the third public performance, she rejects an “Oriental” arrangement and insists on adapting the lyrics with Peking opera recitation, declaring, “How dare anyone distort the sound of Huaxia?” When online haters spread rumors that she worships foreign things, she proves her talent in a livestream, winning countless fans with a performance of Mu Guiying Takes Command.

Her uniqueness catches the eye of the show’s chief producer, Lu Shiyan. He watches her stay up all night demonstrating traditional poise for her teammates, pay out of her own pocket to have costumes made with traditional patterns, and stand tall when powerful interests try to pressure her. His admiration gradually turns to love.

From the opera stage of the Republican era to the modern idol competition stage, Shen Yutang proves with her talent that a true idol takes culture as its soul and patriotism as its backbone, letting tradition and faith shine beneath the spotlight.