Clowns center stage in new Peking Opera series
Print Edition
FOLLOWING the success of its serial shows based on the legendary Monkey King, Shanghai Peking Opera Company will present its “Crown the Clown” series of performances this year.
The series will kick off in April and star Yan Qinggu, a third-generation student of the Zheng school of Peking Opera, as well as other chou performers in the company. Zheng Faxiang, the late founder of the Zheng vocal school, is well known for his vivid portrayal of the Monkey King.
In Peking Opera, the chou (literally meaning “ugly”) is a comedic stock role used to represent characters who are humorous or villinous. Although some consider the chou as a minor role used only as a foil for the leading character, there has long been a popular saying that “no chou, no play.”
The 47-year-old Yan, who is also a producer of the series of shows, says that Peking Opera is facing a shortage of experienced chou performers. It is demanding work being a chou performers, as these roles call for skills in singing, speaking and acrobatics.
“Many classic Peking Opera plays featuring chou as the leading character are in danger of extinction today,” Yan adds. “We hope to recover, preserve and revive the classics, discover talented young actors and spark public awareness of the art of chou.”
Among the performances is the martial arts play “Bergamot Orange” and light-hearted crossover Peking Opera concerts. These talk-show-style concerts will combine Peking Opera with pop cultural elements. They have also been selected for exhibition during the Shanghai International Comedy Festival later this year.
Both Yan and the Shanghai Peking Opera Company are working to cultivate young enthusiasts of traditional theater. Many of their recent productions are a blend of traditional Chinese stories and modern elements and perspectives.
Shan Yuejin, director of Shanghai Peking Opera Company says that in their future serial shows, more talented performers will have opportunities to be producers to bring the art new vitality and creativity.
‘Bergamot Orange’
Date: April 28, 7:15pm
Light-hearted excerpts
Date: July 16, 1:30pm
Martial art shows
Date: October 8, 1:30pm
Venue: Yifu Theater, 701 Fuzhou Rd
Yan Qinggu Peking Opera concerts
Date: November 18-19, 1:30pm
Venue: Zhou Xinfang Theater, 1174-1 Tianyaoqiao Rd
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