Xiqu

EXCERPTS
Peking Opera The Eight Mallets

The Eight Mallets features actors in wusheng (military male) and wuxiaosheng (young military male) roles. While the costume requires the wearing of a long-feather headgear and thick-soled boots, the actor needs to be highly athletic in his torso movements and legwork. The fighting routines also involve adept wielding of the double spears to demonstrate the young Lu Wenlong’s smug, confident airs as he knows he can beat the opponent.

During Southern Song, Jin Wuzhu invaded Song and was intercepted by Yue Fei at Zhu Xian Zhen. Wuzhu sent his adopted son Lu Wenlong, son of Lu Deng, the provincial governor of Lu An, to fight for him. Sixteen years ago when Wuzhu captured Lu An, Lu Deng and his wife sacrificed their lives. Wuzhu took their son Wenlong and his wet nurse to Jin and raised him up. Young and good-looking, Wenlong fought with his double spears with unsurpassed valour. Yue Fei sent Yue Yun, He Yuanqing and two other generals to meet Wenlong in the battleground. To tire him out, they took turns to fight against him with their double mallets; yet they were unable to subdue him.

The character of Lian Po, the prideful veteran general, is performed by an actor trained in tongchui hualian (mallet-wielding, painted face) roles of the Qiu Shengrong stylistic school, while that of Lin Xiangru, the prime minister, is by an actor trained in laosheng (old male) roles. The actor who plays Lian Po, who is later filled with regret, needs to demonstrate orthodox, sophisticated skills in singing, delivery of lines, acting and facial expressions. The actor who plays Lin Xiangru must also demonstrate his generosity of heart and respect for able colleagues.

Lin Xiangru was made prime minister because of his contributions to Zhao. Proud of his own achievements, the jealous old general Lian Po looked down on Xiangru. He blocked Xiangru’s way and tried to humiliate him in several encounters; but each time, Xiangru avoided conflict with him. Imperial official Yu Qing paid a visit to Xiangru and found out that Xiangru put up with Lian Po to avoid disharmony between the civil and martial officials for fear of giving Qin an opportunity to take advantage of Zhao. Yu Qing went to see Lian Po who showed his disdain initially. But when Lian learnt of Xiangru’s concern, he regretted what he had done and went to see Xiangru with a cane on his back and asked for punishment.

Kunqu Opera Painting the Portrait and Bidding Farewell at the Grave from The Story of the Lute

The scene in the excerpts where the actors in zhengdan (orthodox female) and laosheng roles play off one another, requires thespian techniques in the revelation of the nuanced feelings. Therefore, although only a small cast is involved, the excerpts have a subtle delivery that can touch the viewer’s heart. The singing is an excellent example of the art of the shuimoqiang in Kunqu, where the actors need to sing with a delicate, lyrical voice, excellent enunciation and delivery of the fluid, long drawn-out tones.

Zhao Wuniang wanted to go to the capital city to find her husband. Before she left home, she drew a portrait of her deceased parents-in-law in tears and brought it with her. She also entrusted the care of the grave of her parents-in-law to old Master Zhang. Wuniang and Zhang bade farewell to each other in tears before the grave. Taking her lute with her, Wuniang begged all the way to the capital city.