Opera all-stars visit Taipei

The sound of gongs and cymbals will thunder through the Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall over the next week, where an all-star series of Peking Opera is currently showing. The series, performed by the China Peking Opera Theater (CPOT, 中國京劇院), began Wednesday and will continue until June 20.

In its seventh visit to Taipei, CPOT has brought over 76 actors and actresses and a program of 10 plays which will be performed over the course of one week.

The ten shows were selected with an eye for Taiwanese audiences who prefer a classical repertoire, thereby providing an excellent chance for beginners in Peking opera appreciation to enjoy some of the major classics of the repertoire.

In a rehearsal for the show, renowned actor Yu Kuizhi (于魁智) performed a solo part in the role of a general returning from battle to see his wife. The response from the press and many old opera fans was ecstatic.

Yu, leader of the theater's second troupe, is one of the most popular Peking Opera actors on either side of the Taiwan Strait, and brings with him enormous box office drawing power. Since Yu's first Taiwan visit in 1993, local fans have been strongly attracted by his soft and well-round voice and his stage charm -- a fact apply demonstrated by his sales record.

Yu, who is already a veteran of the Taiwan stage, will be playing the lead role in seven of the 10 shows that he is bringing to Taiwan on this visit.

"He [Yu] is among the most influential actors of the past few decades. He specializes in the role of senior male or laosheng (老生), to which he brings not only his gentle but powerful voice, but also a strong stage presence," said Liu Xiaohua (劉孝華), deputy director of CPOT.

Founded in 1955, CPOT is a national level theater troupe which operates under China's Cultural Ministry. It's founding director was Peking opera legend Mei Lanfang (梅蘭芳). In more than four decades, CPOT has attracted top performers, playwrights and musicians to maintain its leading position in the world of Peking opera.

Studying at the Chinese Traditional Drama School and getting a place in CPOT are the highest aspirations for any child in China interested in traditional drama," said Liu.

Including Yu himself, there are 12 performers and musicians in the current visiting group who are ranked as National First-class Performers (國家一級演員).

According to Liu, to be chosen as a national first-class performer requires 14 years of hard work with 120 performances each year. This is another quality guarantee for this week's performances.

Highlights of the 10 shows are Saturday evening's Generals of the Yang Family (楊家將), in which Yu will be performing the role of a loyal old general who has been set up by a treacherous court official. The tragic story ends with Yang and his four sons being annihilated in an epic battle.

For those who prefer qingyi (青衣) roles, female performers who deliver the Chinese ideal of feminine beauty and grace, superstar Lee Haiyen (李海燕) will perform the classic The Jewelry Pouch (鎖麟囊) tonight at 7:30pm. The Jewelry Pouch is a tale about a friendship between two women. Lee Haiyen will also be performing on Saturday evening in the opera The Retrial of Su San (玉堂春). This is another classic Chinese folk tale about the life of a famous courtesan, Su San (蘇三), who is sold to a rich man and then falsely accused of his murder.