Beijing Opera

There exists over 300 different forms of Chinese Opera in the world to date. They range mainly from either northern or southern regions of China and are therefore classified as such. I choose to focus on Beijing Opera which is associated with northern Chinese Opera. Beijing Opera is also known as Peking Opera. (China Culture) Beijing Opera started in the late 18th century and though it is not as old as some of the other forms of Chinese Opera it is easily the most popular and recognizable one of them all. Originally Beijing Opera was intended to be for the Emperor and his court but was later introduced to the public where it gained popularity and took off around 1845. (Cultural Heritage...) Beijing Opera consists of many different forms of art which range from music, literature, aria, face painting, elaborate costumes, dance, and martial art. Many of these styles the Beijing Opera took influence from the older Chinese Opera, Huiban. (China Culture)

(The picture above depicts two Beijing Opera performers demonstrating just one of the many acrobatic stunts performed and just how physically demanding Chinese Opera is on a performer. Also in this picture you see the use of the long banner being used in the stunt, they use banners in Chinese Opera to help represent forces of nature and other natural elements.)

There are 3 main types of characters in a Beijing Opera . The first being "Sheng", which is portrayed as either a older man with a beard "Lao", or a younger man without a beard "Xiao". This character role in the story was usually to be a decency figure. (China Tours) The second is "Dan", who was portrayed as a strong minded middle aged women woman who was very elegant, and again this was broken up even further by either a Senior Woman "Laodan", little girl "Huadan", or a woman that was good at fighting "Wudan". (China Tours) The last type of character you would see is "Jing", who were usually clearly represented by having a painted face. They would often be associated with either being a comic character, villain, or righteous person in the play. the rest of the roles in play are all considered secondary roles and have little effect on story in the opera. (China Tours)

(In the picture above we see a woman or "Dan" performing in a colorful costume. Normally in Beijing Opera the role of the "Dan" was traditionally played by a man since 1772 when the Emperor banned female performers in Beijing. In 1912 though, the ban was lifted and women started having a more active role in performances. Still though, some Beijing Opera companies today stay to tradition and wont allow women in their performances.)

If you were to go to a Beijing Opera you might get lost or confused because in Beijing Opera there isn't a line to line script that is spoken aloud to the audience to guide them through the story. Instead in Beijing Opera, and many other Chinese Operas, the story is told through the movements of the actors body and the music. The tempo of the music and movements of the actors in a Beijing Opera are crucial and are what connect the audience with the emotions and story of the performance. There is occasional singing and dialogue during the performance but its main purpose is just to utilize the tone of the voice to further enhance the musics effect and usually directly compliments the tempo of the music. (World of Theatre) While watching the performance you would be mesmerized by the stunning acrobatics and martial arts of the actors which again is in tempo with the music and if the stunts that defying physical means doesn't grab your attention then certainly the amazing vivid and bright colors of the make up and costumes will draw your eye to the stage and pull you into the story. The stage in which Beijing Operas are performed are normally very dull and bland with lack of major props and setting that we would normally see in modern theatre productions today.

(This Video is an excellent example of how the performers use the tempo of the music with their body movements to help tell the story of the performance. It also demonstrated the typical stage of a Beijing Opera and you get a glimpse of some of the instruments used at the end.)

Interesting Facts

• Beijing Opera grew to great popularity in during the Qing Dynasty were it was recognized as a cultural treasure.
• The most popular Beijing Opera performance is "Farewell my Concubine" which was made into a movie in 1993.
• Beijing Operas music is composed mainly by percussion instruments, two stringed instruments and a flute.
• In Beijing opera, costumes and adornments are categorized according to roles and professions, thus bringing out the best of both characters and adornments. For example, four banderols are decorated on the back of a military officer's costume so that people will be able to recognize its role as soon as the actor shows up.

Works Cited

1. Transformative, By Using. "Beijing Opera, Peking Drama, Oriental Opera, Facial Painting, Lianpu." China Travel Agency,China Tours,Beijing Tour Packages,24/7 Service. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
2. Wertz, Richard R. "The Cultural Heritage of China :: Entertainment :: Chinese Opera :: Beijing Opera." Ibiblio.org - Linux. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
3. Felner, Mira, and Claudia Orenstein. The World of Theatre: Tradition and Innovation. Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, 2006. Print
4. "Beijing Opera - China Culture Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yanqiu, Xun Huisheng,." Arts - China Culture. Web. 26 Sept. 2010.
   

Wicked - The title says it all

Though we have to use theatrical events we go to during this semester on our blog for credit i decided to write about the play i went to go see with my girlfriend just a few weeks ago because it is such a moving and wonderful piece of theatrical work i feel everyone must see if in their lifetime. I went up to New York for our anniversary and was pleasantly surprised when she gave me two tickets to go see the play Wicked tucked away in the middle of the book Wicked: Son of a Witch. We took a train into the city on Saturday morning and spent the day hanging out in china town and little Italy until it was time for the show. We got dressed up, hailed a taxi and departed for the Gershwin theater. When we arrived we waited in line to get our tickets scanned then took our seats. Once you enter the theater you cant help but notice the amazing set and the spinning gears that are twirling. Hopefully some of you have read the book, which i highly recommend but at the top of the stage they have the dragon clock which plays a big part in the book. The play started and right away the lighting used and the costumes stand out so much that you will be awed it made the play so amazing and your eyes will be glued on the stage for the next 3 hours.

The play is a bit different from the book but it throws in a lot of comedy and will keep you laughing. At the end of the play i guarantee you that you will never view The Wizard of Oz the same way again. The play is just so well put together in every aspect its no wonder it is named the best musical of the decade. So next time you are in NYC or any of the other 6 cities it is stationed in do your self a favor and go see wicked.

http://www.wickedthemusical.com/#