Renowned German writer Michael Ende's celebrated fantasy novel "Momo" wowed Chinese audiences via a magically theatrical adaptation almost two decades after its Chinese version was published.

The eponymous play was put on show from Friday to Sunday to packed audiences at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing.

The roughly two-hour drama, under the direction of veteran German Gil Mehmert, stars up-and-coming actress Wan Qian in the titular role of Momo and an ensemble of young performers. 

It follows a fantastic journey of the orphan girl Momo, who possesses a miraculous ability to listen to people's inner voices, trying to help them as well as fighting with the Men of Grey – a time thief.

Presented by the Vertebra Theater – a Shanghai-based independent arts institution, the Sino-German co-production, which made its debut in April in Shanghai, is one of the most highly anticipated shows during this year's NCPA International Theater Festival.

The new round of performances saw seasoned actor and comedian Ge You play the crucial role of the Men of Grey.

Ge once starred the hit play "Looking to the West at Chang'an," one of the highest grossing theater productions in 2007.

For both Ge and Wan, this stage adaptation marks their return to the theater after more than a decade.

In a previous interview with Chinese media, Wan said that "I like the novel. Although I found that it accurately depicts our society today while reading the novel, it is a last century's work."

In her interpretation, the character of Momo "is like a mirror that is capable of showing people happy moments" while the Men of Grey represents the anxiety caused by limited time.

In this sense, she believed that the play is also a mirror of today's reality.

Most of this play's cast are students and graduates from the Shanghai Theatre Academy, where Wan also spent four years studying acting.

Wan described the collaboration with the assemble of young artists as "a process of mutual learning," during which she saw the passion and something "really fresh."

Ende's original work "Momo," also known as "Maomao" in Chinese, has received considerable acclaim since it was published in 1973, winning the German Youth Literature Award – Germany's only state-funded literary award – a year later.

Translated into more than 40 languages, including English, Italian and Chinese, his masterpiece has been enjoying worldwide popularity and has been made into films, animations, operas and stage plays.

Though childhood is a frequent subject in a majority of Ende's novels, his acclaimed fantasy "Momo" indeed embraces much more profound meanings, which are capable of resonating with people of all ages.

Momo's adventure boosts the concept of "timesaving," triggering critical reflections on how it ought to be used in modern societies.

At the press conference, the play's director Mehmert said his adaptation would be more like a movie with cinematic presentation.

Referring to the sci-fi epic "Star Wars," he said "Momo" is also a story about saving the universe as it follows a topic of humanity.

(Cover image by Li Wenyi)