Chinese Opera 101 Stage and Performing Techniques * * * *

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Chinese Opera 101

• Stage and Performing Techniques

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• Understand Chinese Opera
• At a glance, Chinese opera may seem to be
  complicated. But, there are certain
  distinguishing aspects in Chinese opera that can
  help you understand and appreciate the
  performance without the need of actually knowing
  the language.

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Lets first look at the stage design
Chinese Opera stage is traditionally decorated
with a simple backdrop. Chinese Opera typically
does not use the more realistic effects of
Western design and hardly operate any large props
on stage.
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Examples

• Here are photos of more elaborate backdrops

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This is what the table and chairs look like in a
Chinese opera setting.
Stage Design

• Setting a table with a pair of chairs in the
  middle, the stage can become a sitting room, the
  emperors court, or with a chair on top, a
  mountain to climb.

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Lacking scenery and almost any large props,
Chinese opera turns instead to the art of mime,
often with hand-held props to aid the illusion.
For example

• A tasseled whip can become a riders horse.
• Several actors swaying together while one handles
  a paddle can portray a boat ride.
• A lantern or candle in hand tells of night and
  darkness.
• A dance with blue flags means a flood, or with
  red ones, a fire.

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Examples
A fisherman holding a stick simulating paddling a
boat.
Although it may not seem obvious, but by having a
whip in his hand, this photo is showing a male
dignitary riding a horse.
A fairy weaving magic with her long sleeves.
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Use of Props
Lovers saying farewell in the rain.
Checking the surrounding in the dark with a
lantern.
Two warriors fighting in a battle field.
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The Actors and their Acting Techniques

• By doing away with three-dimensional stage props
  and complicated backdrops found in Western opera,
  Chinese opera conveys the idea of time and space
  to the audience through the acting of performers.
  This simple and flexible technique is called
  "imagined time and space" in Chinese operatic
  terminology. This technique is often seen by
  actresses
• walking in a spiral circle on the stage, which
  can mean a long journey, or transition of time
  and space.

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• The acting is not mere imitation of movements in
  daily life. Instead, it has been perfected to
  bring out just their essentials, making them
  highly-stylize and rhythmic dancing movements.
  Such acting is described in Chinese stage
  language as "stylized formula".
• For example, Qiba (setting off for battle), one
  of the many formulas, got its name when it was
  first used in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) opera
  One Thousand Pieces of Gold. It is usually used
  in performances such as fully armed soldiers
  setting off for battle in the old days. It
  concentrates fundamental actions and dancing
  skills in order to demonstrate the prowess of
  generals and soldiers.

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Make-up and Colorful Costumes

• The vividly painted faces of the characters in
  Chinese opera may require a greater participation
  from the audience's imagination. Clowns, for
  example, are represented by a white nose area
  painted in the face.
• Each character in a Chinese opera is based on a
  standard role type, which is recognized at a
  glance by costume, makeup, and demeanor. This
  lets the audience know much about a character
  from the moment the actor comes onstage.

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General speaking, there are four roles in Chinese
opera

• Sheng -- the male role
• Dan -- the female role
• Jing -- the painted-face roles
• Chou -- the clown role

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Sheng -- the male role

• According to the age and social status of the
  characters, male role types roughly fall into
  three sub-groups the young man, the older man,
  and military man (the male characters who appear
  in the battle scenes).

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Examples

• Young Man (dont wear artificial bears)

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Examples

• Older Man (also known as bearded men, because the
  actors wear artificial beards, and they are
  middle-aged or elderly men)

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Examples

• Military Man (the male characters who appear in
  the battle scenes)

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Dan -- the female role

• Female role types are the vivacious lady, the
  refined woman, the older woman, and the military
  woman

Reminder Sheng -- the male role Dan -- the
female role Jing -- the painted-face roles Chou
-- the clown role
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Examples

• Vivacious Lady (a young female character with a
  frank and open personality)

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Examples

• Refined Woman (young or middle-aged women with
  gentle and refined dispositions, they usually
  wear a robe with extended white flowing sleeves)

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Examples

• Older Woman

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Examples

• Military Woman (female characters skilled in the
  martial arts)

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Jing the painted-face roles

• Generally refer to male characters whose strong
  and simple personalities are represented by
• mask-like face painting.
• This group can include
• heroes, villains,
• generals,
• gods, and demons.

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Chou -- the clown role

• Chou, with the eyes and nose surrounded by a
  white patch, is another special group, both male
  and female, who provide humor through foolishness
  or wit.

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Examples
Wenchou (civilian)

• According to the social positions, characters and
  skills demanded, the Chou roles are divided into
  two categories

Wuchou (martial)
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• Pointers
• It takes a life-time of dedication to learn the
  art of Chinese Opera.
• Usually a person only specializes in one role
  type including singing and acting. When a person
  performs in a role that is not typical of his or
  hers, we said the person is Fan-Chuan.
• During the performance, its the orchestra
  follows the performers which gives performers
  more flexibility and rooms for personal styles.
  The drummer serves as the head of the orchestra.

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Classical Opera Performancesavailable on
http//www.CulturalExploration.org/
Picking up the Jade Bracelet
The Huarong Path An excerpt from The Romance of
the Three Kingdom
San Cha Kou (At the Crossroad Inn)