Fading Theatre
Delve into and gain an appreciation for the forgotten craft of Chu Opera with Alicia Hong.
I
n the heart of Hankou District lies Hubei Chu Opera Academy. With 300 years of history, Chu Opera is an age-old performing arts native to Wuhan.
Locals, all 50 years old and above, stream in on a Saturday afternoon to watch the weekly Chu Opera (楚劇) performance. The excited chatter of the audience filled the theatre as they await a movement-filled sedan chair performance and Yue Ju (越剧), a soulful vocal piece.
This sight, although a common weekly affair now, is sadly not something we will see 30 years down the road as there is evidently not many young people in the audience. This is due to the lack of appreciation of Opera among the younger generation.
Zhang Yiping (张一平), 72, an Opera actress with 60 years of experience, said, "Appreciation starts from understanding the specialty and unique point of Opera which is why the art of watching Opera must be taught.”
“You have to look at the small details and ponder on the symbolism of Opera performances. It is hard for the younger generation to appreciate Opera as they lack the exposure and the patience to watch it,” added Yiping.
“ Chu Opera is part of what defines the
culture of China, it is what makes this
country unique, ”
- Chen Xiao Meng, 30, a Chu Opera actor for 17 years.
With vibrantly coloured stages and rich melodic sounds, the language of Opera does not lie solely in the spoken words. Rather, it is an amalgamation of all elements – the costumes and makeup, the music, the stage and props, simultaneously coming together to allow the actors and actresses to tell the audience a story.
Every element of a Chu Opera performance is well thought out and there is exceptional accuracy in the expressions of performers. A role’s inner characteristics and social status are often depicted in the design of their clothing. A yellow Mang (蟒) is a dragon robe usually worn by royalty. If it has elaborate designs of a dragon, it usually means that the character is stronger and more open. On the other hand, if the designs are simpler and smaller, it indicates that the character is mellow and calm.
Another distinctive aspect of Chu Opera is the four main roles: Sheng (生), Dan (旦), Jing (净）and Chou (丑) which are simply explained with the terms male lead, female lead, male role with a painted face who is usually a supporting male role and clown respectively. This can be distinguished in the makeup of Opera actors and actresses.
Chu Opera is also a craft that is tough to perfect. As the Chinese saying goes, ten years of practice for one minute on stage (台上一分钟，台下十年功), Opera performers need to start young and undergo many years of training to hone their skills before they perform for an audience.
The investment of time and long training hours makes Chu Opera a specialised art form which is not something commonly picked up by the younger generation as compared to other more popular performing arts.
Even though appreciation for Opera has dwindled over the years, there is a lot of effort being put in to make sure that this invaluable part of China’s culture does not fade away.
Xia Qingling (夏青玲), 52, a recognized actress with 40 years of experience, said, “Although cultivating an appreciation for Opera is a slow process, teaching and imparting it to the younger generation is the best way to make sure it is not forgotten.”
Qingling is motivated to turn her efforts to teach and impart knowledge and skills to the younger generation by going to universities and Opera academies to give vocal lessons.
Similarly, Chen Xiao Meng (陈晓檬), 30, who started learning Opera since he was 13 years old, has been teaching students in primary schools and universities how to appreciate Opera at the 200 boot camps organised by the academy. This is done alongside other Opera performers in the Hubei Chu Opera Academy.
The aim is to spread appreciation of Opera through the means of education. Occasionally, the actors and actresses perform Opera for the students to enable them to appreciate it firsthand for themselves.
“Chu Opera is part of what defines the culture of China, it is what makes this country unique,'' said Xiao Meng.
“I hope to see more young people in the audience enjoying the performances as it would be a pity to see Chu Opera fade away.”
Opera actress performs a scene portraying intense emotions by moving her water sleeves (水袖) quickly and haphazardly to show madness.
A young Opera actress waits excitedly to perform as the makeup artist applies bright red lipstick on her.
