Fortunetelling based on the belief of reincarnation has long been an
obsession with Taiwanese. From TV dramas, newspaper columns to serious
publications on reincarnation theory, the rage goes on.
National Kuo Kuang Chinese Opera Company, famous for adopting Taiwanese folk
legends and literature in its productions such as Matsu and Cheng Cheng-gong
and Taiwan, will deal with the subject in its annual original-script
production, Dream of the Underworld.
Although characters in this opera come from the ancient novel Sima Mao
Wrecks Havoc in the Underworld, the story is imbued with modern
significance.
Sima Mao, an academic of the Han dynasty, is told by a fortuneteller that he
will never get a government position - the ultimate goal for academics in
ancient China. Indignant, he writes a letter of complaint to the emperor of
heaven, saying that, because he is so intelligent and judicious, he should
be tasked with deciding everyone's destiny.
Shocked by such hubris in a mortal, the emperor of heaven makes Sima the
king of the underworld for 12 hours, during which time he would have to
decide how prominent historical figures are reincarnated, including Han
dynasty general Xiang Yu, and Three-Kingdoms era premier, Tsao Tsao.
Having created total chaos with his decisions, Sima realizes that
reincarnation is not as simple as he had assumed.
The plot is quite complicated and its frequent historical references may
require a bit of homework before seeing the show.
Dream of the Underworld will be performed at the National Theater tonight
and tomorrow at 7:30pm and Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets are selling fast but
the higher-priced ones are still available at the venue.
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