One great advantage China has is it is never short of people for anything. I was thinking of Chinese opera. It might be less popular than it was before, but in China there are still many young people, male and female, wanting to learn Chinese opera. There are also regular opera competitions.
So in Cantonese opera for example, they don't need females to take up male roles. There are even young men and young women specializing in old woman's role and old man's role. And by the time they step onto the stage to do supporting roles, they already have a good foundation in the basics. Even walking and standing on stage are basic things that need to be learned.
For two nights I was watching the shows by the Guangdong Cantonese Opera First Troupe. One of the things that struck you was people. Besides the first and second line artistes, there were at least two dozen others doing secondary and supporting roles. The artistes performing male and female dancers in the shows were about the same height and no one looks plump. Doesn't that mean the troupe has more than enough people for it be choosy. Besides talents, it can afford to pick on height and look.
Doesn't this remind you of how Beijing chose participants for the Olympic Games ceremonies.
A China huadan once said that the stage life for a China opera artiste is quite short. Unlike their counterparts in Hong Kong, China artistes don't expect to perform into their sixties and seventies.
My blogger friend Amai who is an opera actress herself has a post on one of the shows here:
http://amailovesopera.blogspot.com/2009/10/four-legendary-beauties.html
Here are some photos of the second night. I took them during close curtain after the show has ended, so it is not against regulations.
The main cast: 彭炽权, 丁凡, 蔣文端, 林家寶 So in Cantonese opera for example, they don't need females to take up male roles. There are even young men and young women specializing in old woman's role and old man's role. And by the time they step onto the stage to do supporting roles, they already have a good foundation in the basics. Even walking and standing on stage are basic things that need to be learned.
For two nights I was watching the shows by the Guangdong Cantonese Opera First Troupe. One of the things that struck you was people. Besides the first and second line artistes, there were at least two dozen others doing secondary and supporting roles. The artistes performing male and female dancers in the shows were about the same height and no one looks plump. Doesn't that mean the troupe has more than enough people for it be choosy. Besides talents, it can afford to pick on height and look.
Doesn't this remind you of how Beijing chose participants for the Olympic Games ceremonies.
A China huadan once said that the stage life for a China opera artiste is quite short. Unlike their counterparts in Hong Kong, China artistes don't expect to perform into their sixties and seventies.
My blogger friend Amai who is an opera actress herself has a post on one of the shows here:
http://amailovesopera.blogspot.com/2009/10/four-legendary-beauties.html
Here are some photos of the second night. I took them during close curtain after the show has ended, so it is not against regulations.
One of the second hua dans, 梁曉瑩
Group photo
Do you see something in Jeong Mun Tuin's hand? On both nights after the show I saw a member of the stage crew in the pit below handed her something. It looked like some documents. At first I thought it was some valuable certificate for her custody.
Well, it was not a certificate but no doubt it was something valuable ...
3 comments:
Hahahahaha.... $$ nicely presented.
Before that ML has already told me abt it...I guess this isn't the only one...heard that at least she gets 3 sets.
U r right abt China has no lack of talent. In SG, irregardless of age, gender and size...as long as someone is willing to join, the troupes are happy to have them.
Amai,
I want to know why is Pang Ji Kuen, and Ting Fan, and Jeong Mun Tuin, and Lum Gale Bole, and Lum Kum Yee not coming back to the Washington DC area of State Maryland usa to do a performance again.
Could i hold jeong mun tuin tight around the hand since i have no sisters to do that
when i am crying a lot no sister will hold me tight around the hand i wonder if jeong mun tuin and Leung Kum Yee be my adopted sisters?
Sincerelery
Steve
Amai,
I want to know why is Pang Ji Kuen, and Ting Fan, and Jeong Mun Tuin, and Lum Gale Bole, and Lum Kum Yee not coming back to the Washington DC area of State Maryland usa to do a performance again.
Could i hold jeong mun tuin tight around the hand since i have no sisters to do that
when i am crying a lot no sister will hold me tight around the hand i wonder if jeong mun tuin and Leung Kum Yee be my adopted sisters?
Sincerelery
Steve
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