Despite Gu's attention to tradition, directing the episodes that have not been performed over 100 years proved a difficult job. "Many episodes have not been performed continually. It's hard to ascertain how actors in ancient times sang the scores. I could only try to guess how they would have interpreted them."
Gu's insistence on an unadulterated traditional interpretation is shared by Yip, the artistic director of the show. "Our collaboration was a very happy one. Our ideas on the play were the same from the very beginning. Yeh wanted the production to be `more traditional than traditional.' That was exactly what I wanted.
"I told Yeh that all the human characters have to stick to tradition and he can do whatever he wants with the gods and supernatural characters. His designs for the stage settings also comply with tradition."
The 140 costumes are based on illustrations and portraits from Ming dynasty documents. Some 60 seasoned Suzhou tailors worked for over one year to produce the delicate patterns on the magnificent dresses of the palace characters.
A nostalgia for old-time Kunju and a concern for the preservation of the opera set the tone of Gu's discussion of the show. "Zhao Cheng-li (趙承林) and Wang Fang (王芳) [lead actor and actress] are among the best Suzhou Kunju opera performers. Zhao has an excellent singing voice and Wang is riveting as an actress. They both have decades of experience in Kunju. But I must say they cannot match the level of older generations of singers."
In Gu's hometown, there are only two such artists still alive. They are both in their 90s and still teach Kunju. Gu's deepest concern is whether their artistic achievements can be repeated by younger generations. "In the Ching dynasty, Palace was performed in its unabridged form of 55 episodes. The episodes have to be performed for young people to learn from the performers and for the traditions to survive." This is the driving force behind Gu's efforts to stage a record-setting 28 episodes.
"Kunju is the highest achievement of Chinese opera. If we are to preserve the art form in the best way, we have to preserve its completeness," Gu said.
Asked why he has supported the classic art form over 50 years, Gu said, "Kunju Opera is a trap. Once you get caught, you fall deeper and deeper in love with it."
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