Performability in play translation: a comparative study of S. I. Hsiung’s English versions of Lady Precious Stream and The Romance of the Western Chamber

This study conducts a comparative analysis of S. I. Hsiung’s English translations of two Chinese plays – Lady Precious Stream (王宝川, or Wang Baochuan) and The Romance of the Western Chamber (西厢记, or Xixiang Ji) – focusing specifically on the performability strategies employed in these theatrical works. We propose a tripartite framework of performability, encompassing speakability, acceptability, and actability, and apply this framework to examine the translations comparatively. The study, with the tripartite framework, investigates the textual, paratextual, and extratextual factors that contributed to the successful publication and performance of Lady Precious Stream in contrast to the relative lack of reception for The Romance of the Western Chamber among British audiences in the 1930s. It analyses Hsiung’s performability-driven translation strategies, demonstrating his balancing act between fidelity to the source text and adaptation to Western theatrical conventions. Additionally, it explores the paratextual and extratextual elements Hsiung employed – such as visual design, ideological framing, and the influence of patrons and theatre managers – to enhance the plays’ accessibility. The findings reveal that the favourable reception of Lady Precious Stream stemmed from Hsiung’s strategic application of performability in language, style, theme, ideology, and performance practicality. In contrast, the more faithful translation of The Romance of the Western Chamber failed to resonate due to unresolved cultural disparities. This contrast underscores the pivotal role of performability strategies in shaping the reception of translated playtexts while affirming the explanatory power of the three-fold framework.