Xiqu

Monkey King Play Series:
Youth Troupe of the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing and Li Baochun

Monkey play is categorised by region and defined as the southern and the northern styles. The southern style monkey play is headed by Shao Opera of Zhejiang; the northern style is represented by Peking Opera, which is the most widespread operatic genre across the country. The monkey play in Peking Opera is further categorised into the southern and northern schools. The art of Yang Yuelou and his son Yang Xiaolou is exemplary of the northern school monkey play of Peking Opera. Subsequently, Li Shaochun, master of wusheng (military male role), combined the strengths of the northern and southern schools and built his own interpretation based on the Yang style. His portrayal of the Monkey King is not only characterised by the nimble and dexterous traits of a monkey, but also reveals with demeanour of the Monkey King. One could describe his performance as a perfect amalgamation of monkey, human and deity. The Festival has specially invited Li Baochun, the son of Li Shaochun and renowned Peking Opera artist from Taiwan, to collaborate with the Youth Troupe of the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing performing his father’s monkey play art and the classic play Xue Pinggui Leaving His Humble Abode. The exciting line up of monkey plays features Monkey King Wreaking Havoc in Heaven, The Eighteen Ahrats Fighting with Wukong, The Bottomless Hole, Subduing the Leopard Monster. There are also highly technical martial excerpts Sawing the Big Jar, Mount Yandang etc. to showcase the finest young martial actors of the troupe, who will perform their superior skills on stage. In addition to the strong line up of martial performances, Chi Xiaoqiu, renowned Cheng (Yanqiu) school qingyi (virtuous female) and Zhu Qiang, a laosheng (old male) actor of the Ma (Lianliang) style, will stage the classic title of the Cheng school called A Lesson from the Mother. The exciting programme, which comprises of both bold and tender elements, provides satisfaction in all aspects.