屋檐下的艺术

How the arts thrive under the eaves

过年期间，老友李卫按例来访。自从他去北京以后，一起喝酒的机会逐渐少了，一年就那么一二次，而过年期间的喝酒是固定的，中国人再怎么忙，过年是必须要回家的，哪怕被蜂拥的人群挤成“肉饼”。家是中国人观念中最重要的精神符号，“父母在不远游”、“倦鸟知还”、“少小离家老大回”等传统观念早已渗透到我们的血液之中，这也使得每年春运返乡的民工潮成了一道奇观。

If we believe grand theaters are the palaces for the arts,then studio theaters are small houses where the arts survive for the common people, just like children born of a concubine. Because of financial constraints,studio theaters cannot present lavish productions. Instead of a full orchestra,the stage set only accommodates a piano.Yet the studio theater can be quite attractive: the audience can sit close to the stage, therefore sharing an intimacy with the actors as if they are all one family.In fact,the real culture of a city does not necessarily thrive in a grand theater,but in the smaller,experimental theaters outside the government structure.