Sunday, January 13, 2008
On 12/1/08, I had the opportunity to watch a full 4h of cantonese opera at the drama centre titled "Reincarnation of a Beauty". I've been thinking of watching cantonese operas for some time but I just couldn't find the opportunity. Luckily for me, I had the chance to watch at least one before I go back Aust. Opera might not interest young people nowadays but I think its necessary to embrace and create awareness of this art as it might be lost in future generations.
When I reach the drama centre, it was filled with the elderly and middle aged people spouting cantonese, looks like I might be the youngest among the audience. Surprisely, there were some caucasians as well.
SYNOPSIS from www.gatecrash.com.sg:
The story is set towards the end of the Southern Song epoch (AD 1127 – 1279). Li Hui Niang, out of poverty, was forced to submit herself as a concubine of the wicked Prime Minister Jia Shi Dao. Her admiration for Pui Yu a handsome scholar incurred the wrath of Jia Shi Dao who killed her, and decapitated her to serve as a warning to his other concubines.
Pui Yu sought consolation in a young maiden Lu Cao Rong whose appearance resembled that of Li Hui Niang. To thwart Jia’s intention to get Lu to replace Li Hui Niang as his concubine, Pui Yu concocted a plan whereby Lu Cao Rong should feign insanity. This ruse succeeded in fooling Jia but not his security chief Jia Ying Zhong, who was also his nephew. To silence Pui Yu, Jia tasked Ying Zhong to kill Pui Yu in the middle of the night in the Red Plum Chamber where Li Hui Niang’s coffin was laid.Li Hui Niang appeared as a ghost to Pui Yu and revealed Jia’s wicked intention. With her supernatural powers, she rescued Pui Yu from the assassin and also led him out of Jia’s mansion unscathed.
Realising that Lu Qiu Rong had pulled wool over his eyes, Jia Shi Dao sent Ying Zhong to Yangcheng to capture Lu Cao Rong who was living with her father Lu Tong, a former general in the Imperial Court.. Lu Cao Rong was then critically ill. Li Hui Niang brought Pui Yu to Lu Tong’s house too, only to hear Lu Cao Rong’s death. Without hesitation, Li Hui Niang’s spirit entered the deceased maiden’s body and Li Hui Niang was reincarnated.
At this juncture Jia Shi Dao’s party arrived. As Lu Tong had been reinstated by the new Emperor of the Song kingdom; and acting on an Imperial decree, he immediately arrested Jia Shi Dao for all his wicked deeds. Li Hui Niang acknowledged Lu Tong as her foster father and married Pui Yu. The opera thus ended on a happy note.
Narration of this happy story:
In the first scene, a boat was anchored near a bank with willow trees. Lead actress See To Hoi Siang aka Hui Niang was about to disembark when she saw the scholar(another lead actress, Wong Kum Yeng) aka Pui Yu holding a guqin. Pui Yu is mesmorized by her beauty and wanted to meet her hence urged her to disembark the boat and meet him in person. She refused him three times before she was moved by his sincerity. Upon closer look, it was love at first sight for both parties! They bask in each other's company. However, moments later Hui Niang weeped and said that she can't reciprocate his love as she belongs to the owner of this boat. Pei Yu was hard broken and threw the guqin on floor and at the same time Hui Niang's red handkechief fell to the ground. As a memory, Pei Yu took the handkechief and left. Hui Niang shouted after, "Young lad, young lad"
The owner of the boat emerged and he's Prime Minister, Jia Shi Dao who has 36 concubines including Hui Niang. He was curious at his concubine's outburst and questioned her further. Hui Niang confessed that she had feelings for a young lad. He was outrage at her confession. To add to his wrath, Hui Niang said in defiance that she would rather kill herself then be a "trapped bird in a jade birdcage". Hui Niang was decaptitated soon after. With a concubine less, Shi Dao ordered his nephew Jia Ying Zhong to look for another beauty who resemble Hui Niang.
Scene 2, Pui Yu happened to venture into the country side and spotted red plum flowers blooming in a wine shop. He wanted to pluck one for a momento to remind him of Hui Niang. While plucking, he fell over the fence into someone's residence. Lu Cao Rong, daughter of this wine shop owner (lead actress See To Hoi Siang) was back from plucking flowers for brewing wine and to her astonishment saw Pui Yu. She hurriedly exited the house thinking she was in the wrong house. However, she was sure this was her home with the red plum flowers. She went in cautiously. Pui Yu was elated to bump into "Hui Niang" again but it was actually Cao Rong who bares a strong resemblance of Hui Niang. Cao Rong was shaken at Pui Yu's warm affection and scolded him. While Pui Yu was sadly exiting the shop,Cao Rong called out to him. Cao Rong shyly replied that she was interested in him. The couple were in bliss and with Cao Rong's father, Lu Tong's blessing, Cao Rong was betrothed to Pei Yu. Happiness was short-lived as Ying Zhong came with wedding gifts to the Lu residence to request for Lu Cao Rong's hand of marriage on behalf of the Prime Minister. Both Cao Rong and Pei Yu were devastated. Pei Yu, top scholar of the imperial exams, came up with an idea that he will first pay a visit to the Prime Minister before Cao Rong. Cao Rong will display erratic behaviour and talk like an insane woman. That was the only plan.
Scene 3, Cao Rong arrived at the house of the Prime Minister, she indeed behave as a mad woman who is absorbed in her own world. When he tested her, she didn't flinch even if her father was beaten by the guards. Pei Yu even convinced the Prime Minister not to marry this crazy woman as he quoted an example that his cousin married a crazy woman and end up dying young. Disappointed, he allowed Lu Tong to send her daughter back. The Prime Minister take this opportunity to keep Pei Yu by his side as his advisor. However, his nephew Jia Ying Zhong was sure she was feigning her madness. The Prime Minister felt angry that he was deceived and commandered Ying Zhong to assassinate Pei Yu at midnight.
Scene 4, Pei Yu was resting in his room when he saw a red figure praying at a pavilion with a unkept grave just opposite his room. Curious, he took a closer look at who's outside. To his astonishment, the red figure look like Hui Niang! But it wasn't. The lady was there to mourn for her sister who died tragically. After chatting briefly, the lady excused herself as she couldn't be out for long. After she left, Pei Yu was curious as to who lay in that grave. He was in shock!! The grave belonged to Li Hui Niang!! Overwhelmed with grieve, he retreated back to his room. After a long time, Pei Yu drifted to sleep. Hui Niang appeared from the grave as a ghost!! Her main purpose was to warn Pei Yu of the danger he's going to face. Before they can chat further, Ying Zhong was equipped with a a sword and tried to assassinate Pei Yu but he always seem to miss. That was because Hui Niang was helping him to dodge all the blows. Under such precarious situation, he managed to escape unscathed.
Scene 5 and 6, after Pei Yu and Hui Niang escape far enough. Hui Niang joyously said that she begged the Jade Emperor and was given a chance to be reincarnated into Cao Rong's body. Pei Yu was elated by the news and both hurried to Cao Rong's house. Cao Rong was indeed very ill and before long Hui Niang enter Cao Rong's body and was reincarnated. At this moment, the Prime Minister arrived with his guards to settle scores with Pei Yu. Before he can act, an imperial degree under the new Emperor arrived and exposed the Prime Minister's evil deeds and was demoted to a commoner. Pei Yu and Hui Niang lived happily ever after!
Luckily, this opera I've watched ended in a happy mode and not the other more typical tragic endings. I personally feel that life is pretty tragic already. I don't want to watch more tragic endings.
Dreams never come true
5:35 pm
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Friday, January 11, 2008
I've been lazy updating.....however it's good to be back home in time for christmas and new year!!!!
Things I've been doing so far:
1. Meeting and catching up with my wonderful friends for dinners
2. Eating yummy food
3. Shopping from 1 mega shopping centre to another (only 1 near my aust home)
4. Swimming
5. Going for guzheng lessons
6. Watching musicals, shows and plays
Things I want to do:
1. Cycling at East Coast
2. More swimming
3. Canoeing
4. Learn to do makeup in time for graduation
5. Learn driving
6. Play mahjong
Hopes for the Year of the Rat, 2008:
1. To attain first class/2nd upper for honours
2. Spending much quality time with family and friends as I possibly can when I'm in Singapore
3. Polishing my kendo
4. Saving more $$
5. Learn about investing and rolling $$
Thats it for now...More added later
Dreams never come true
11:43 pm
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