Schiller's prophecy on young couple's puzzle The classic "Intrigue and Love" by Frederich Schiller was premiered at Shanghai Oriental Arts Center. Old theatrical plays can still seduce us today with their timeless take on human relations. One of them is "Intrigue and Love," written by German philosopher and playwright Friedrich Schiller in 1783. Director Kerstin Jacobssen says the old classic, as a matter of fact, addresses many perplexities facing today's young people."It is like a foretelling about today's society more than 200 years ago," she says. "The problems between the two leading characters still exist between young couples nowadays, such as the differences between two families, pressures from parents and the concerns about other people's judgments."The play depicts the doomed love between an aristocrat young man and a girl of humble birth, whose relationship is not accepted by tradition. A malicious intrigue is set up by their parents and people around them to separate the couple, with tragic results. The play was performed by German's leading theater company, the Meininger Theater, with a history of 178 years. It was performed in German with Chinese subtitles. It is the first time the play has been performed in China in German, although it was first staged in the country 50 years ago in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Schiller's birth. It has thus become one of the most well-known German literary works among Chinese. Audience and critics have praised the play's depiction of young aristocrat Ferdinand's revolt against princely authority, his demand for freedom and pursuit of individuality. The director has condensed the play and added lively performances to make the old classic more entertaining. The stage setting is simple: a table with three chairs and a violin placed against a pillar is the home of Miller, the musician and father of Louise, Ferdinand's beloved. A purple-colored armchair represents the aristocratic society.