Xiqu

“On the Road from Wang Kui”
Wang Kui is from the traditional repertory of the Shanglu school, and is recognised for its archaistic style that has its provenance from the early Southern Opera of the Song and Yuan period. When Wang Kui is down and out, he is aided by Xie Guiying, a courtesan, and the two fall in love. They pledge that they would be forever true. But when Wang comes top in the examination and is appointed the Inspector of Xuzhou, he chooses to forget his vows. Devastated and heartbroken, Guiying cuts her own throat. Her ghost stays on earth. With a broadsword in hand, she goes to Xuzhou
to find Wang to take him to hell.

“Rendezvous at the Monastery Gate from Guo Hua”
Guo Hua is a highly popular play of the Xiaoliyuan stream,and the storyline is equally well known. It is a bravura piece for the actors performing sheng and dan, i.e., the male and female lead in a ‘seven role types’ troupe. The aria, Going to the Lantern Fair from the excerpt Rendezvous at the Monastery Gate is a household tune in the southern Fujian area. The story takes place during the Northern Song period. A scholar Guo Hua has come to the capital to attend the national civil examination. He meets the daughter of the owner of a shop called Wang Yueying by chance. It is love at first sight, and the young lovers agree to meet at the monastery gate on the evening of the Lantern Festival. But Guo gets so drunk that he passes out. Not seeing him after a long wait, Yueying leaves behind a handkerchief and embroidered shoes as a mark that she has been there.

“The Surrender from Liu Xiu”
The play Liu Xiu is also known as Shen Peng Surrendering to Han, which is in the repertory of the Xianan stream. Its presentation style
is unique in that there is ad lib at the wings of the stage, and the witty performance of the player of a wind instrument known as aizai,
which are both rarely found in other operatic genres.
The story takes place during the early years of Eastern Han period. Liu Xiu, later Emperor Guangwu, initiates a military coup to
reinstate the Han regime. General Shen Peng has declared allegiance with the usurper, Wang Mang. He fights the Han army at Suyang
City, but later after much persuasion from his mother and wife, he surrenders and opens the city gate to the Han army.