The singing heartthrob Jeff Chang is forging a new stage career, starting with a play featuring a dog's eye view of
life, Elise Fu reports.

In popular Chinese music circles, he has been known as the "love song prince" for over 20 years. No matter how old he is, what album he releases or whatever else he does in the fast changing entertainment scene where new stars come and go, Jeff Chang will always carry this title.

Chang arrived last month in Shanghai, not for a new love-song album, but to introduce the first stage drama -- "Lulu, Listen to Me" -- produced by his own troupe. The play is an all-star lineup with Chang as the lead actor, scriptwriter and music director.

Musician Guo Zi is art director, famous Taiwan musical producer Kay Huang is lead actress and singer Tarcy Su plays a key "character" in the production, a stray dog called "Lulu." The play, a revival of the Broadway show "Sylvia," tells the story of a family crisis. Wei Cheng (played by Chang), is over 40 years old and has lost his ambition to strive or work, while his wife Li Feng (played by Kay Huang) has a successful career.

As the husband worries about his fading youth and passion, a young female dog named Lulu (played by Tarcy Su) comes into their lives.

"The play follows a family crisis through a dog's eyes. The middle-aged white-collar worker facing a personal crisis has a successful career wife. One day he saves a stray dog and pours out all his emotions to her and his life changes," Chang said.

Wearing a light casual suit and with a genial smile, the middle-aged "love song prince" still has a fresh and natural quality, like a cooling breeze in the sunshine.

His admiring fans -- wearing T-shirts with his name on them -- sit politely at the foot of the stage and keep shooting photographs of their idol as the interview takes place.

Striving in the music scene for nearly 20 years, Chang is famous for his talent, clean and soft voice and his distinctive, pure songs.

Born in Yunlin, Taiwan, his showbiz career started with him winning a singing competition while in college. Since 1989, he has released a string of highly successful albums, won many awards and become a crooner of touching love-songs in the Chinese pop world.

After achieving great success in singing, Chang branched out to the film world and also dabbled on the stage. After performing in Stan Lai's stage drama "Watch TV With Me," he was inspired to set up his own troupe.

He shared his views about chosing the animal-related "Lulu, Listen to Me" as his troupe's first work.

"As both scriptwriter and lead actor in the play, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to explain the main spirit of this classic show through modern drama," Chang said.

"Whether it involves the relationship between humans and dogs, or that between human beings themselves, the play offers a new vision and new life philosophy, as well as a chance to confront life's meaning."

To Chang, adopting animals is not only a story in the show, but also happens in his everyday life.

He once cared for 14 stray or abandoned dogs and cats at his home. More important is that he never buys animals. All are saved from the street and most have serious injuries or illness. He takes them home, cures them and helps to find a new home.

"But, you know, some are too ugly to find a new owner, some have an incurable ailment, so I keep them myself. Now, I have three cats and my dog has just passed away," he said.

Chang also shared the story of his first adopted dog, which was saved by Kay Huang on the roadside near their record company. He got the name "Xiao Hei" (little black) because he was very dirty when found. At the time, the singer was a budding star in music circles and lived in the company apartment.

"When I saw Xiao Hei, I felt like we were in the same boat -- he was so lovely and deserved people's pity and compassion."

Chang seems genuinely interested and concerned when talking about animals and many good friends share the same compassion for animals, such as famous Taiwan singer Michelle Pan, who has adopted more than 10 cats that she keeps at home.

Also Kay and Xu Xidi, known as "Little S," the most popular entertainment talk show hostess in Taiwan, are all fond of animals. "When we get together, most of our discussion is about animals," Chang said.

"Kay has also saved many cats and has a dog named Dong Dong ("hole" in English,) You cannot imagine how badly he was injured and how many holes were found on his body when he was rescued. Although he survived and has recovered well, most of the injury scars remain and fur cannot grow over them."

Chang not only has a pure heart when singing the love songs which made his career a great success, but also a kind heart and warm concern for animals.

"Dogs have a very simple emotion and trust for people. But many who decide to keep a dog out of sudden impulse don't realize that it is a lifelong commitment. They are not toys but living creatures," he said.

He also suggested that if someone does decide to have a pet, adopt one instead of buying. Many dogs and cats that have experienced a vagabond life value their survival and are well behaved.

"Many people say to me that helping stray dogs is a troublesome business which takes a lot of money, energy and time, and ask why I still do it. Actually, I do not know why, maybe it is just a love of animals born within me from which I get a lot of unexpected happiness."

His care for animals has affected many people -- he was awarded the title of Ambassador of Love To Animals by the Shanghai Small Animal Protection Association -- just as his songs have done.

And he has taken an opportunity to extend this care through his art in a stage drama.

In "Lulu, Listen to Me," the three lead actors in the play use bold, even exaggerated body language to portray the complicated relations between husband and wife, between female dog (depicted as the "other woman") and the couple, between the pet and the owner, and also between the stray dog and society.

In the play, Tarcy's character is a big challenge because she must act as a real dog, Chang said. And Tarcy agrees. "It is really difficult for me. Every move, every sound I make or react to must be like a dog so I took a lot of time observing the movements of real animals," she said.

"And I found that if you really see the world through the eyes of a stray dog, life seems different and hard, sometimes really cruel," she added.

Chang believes the play is very touching.

"We wanted a way to perform the classic and at the same time discuss the relationship between human beings themselves as well as the animals around them," he said.

Apart from his current focus on the stage drama, the "love song prince" also has a clear blueprint for the future.

He thinks that the ultimate goal of a singer is to perform musical drama which puts higher demands on the performer. It requires live singing and performing as well as coordination with the dancers and the stage itself. It has something more in-depth to offer so his next goal is to do musical drama.

"I think my previous experience in singing, in film and in stage performing are all going to help me move forward in that direction," he said confidently.

"But that doesn't mean I will abandon singing. Musical drama is another level of music and my new album will be released by the end of the year."

"Lulu, Listen to Me" is a Shanghai International Art Festival program which will be staged at the Majestic Theater from November 12 to 15.


Career Highlights

MUSIC

1986: began his singing career through a musical competition

March, 1989: released his first album "Lie"

December, 1989: held his first concert

1992: released his first English album "My Eyes Adored You"

1989-2008: released more than one album each year and hit many musical charts. Won awards such as "Ten Idols of the Year," "Most Popular Male Singer," "Record of the Year" and "Song of the Year."

FILMS

2002: "A Pinwheel Without Wind" 2006:"Stand in Love" 2007: "MingMing"

PLAYS

2008: "Watch TV With Me"

2009: "Lulu, Listen To Me"