Since he first appeared on stage in Taiwan 13 years ago, Li
Bao-chun(李寶春)has become the nation's most revered performer of
traditional Beijing Opera.
Although specializing in his formative years in China in the roles of the
bearded old man (Laosheng,老生) and the combat hero (Wusheng, 武生) - two of Beijing Opera's most demanding and physical roles - it is has been his
high-flying martial art-laden portrayals of the Monkey King that have won
him so many fans in his adopted home of Taiwan.
The first of this year's Koo Foundation-sponsored operatic outings at
Taipei's Novel Hall featuring Li will be staged this weekend. Veering
slightly from traditional opera this time around, Li has instead chosen to
bring contemporary adaptations of age-old Beijing opera favorites to the
stage.
Aptly titled Modern Old Opera(新老戲), the series of performances is set to
see Li taking on the guises of not only the mischievous Monkey King, but
also a host of other popular opera characters of Chinese folklore.
Along with modern re-workings of several of the Monkey King's misadventures,
Li will be performing an adaptation of The Water Margin(水滸傳), titled
Zhuang Chou's Grand Experiment and excerpts from a recently completed opera
titled Love's Labor Won (瑜亮鬥智).
Li will be leaping from the stage of Taipei's Novel Hall at 7pm tonight and
tomorrow night and again on Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets cost between NT$500
and NT$1,500 and are available from ERA ticketing outlets nationwide or
direct from the venue. Call (02) 2722-4302 ext. 7555 for further
information.
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