Presented in the form of two double bills, the production will see some 29 actors and musicians gracing the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) in Sentul from July 12-14.
Programme A consists of “Zhuangzi Tests his Wife” and “Lu Wenlong”, while programme B features “The Death of Zhou Yu” and “Guiying’s Accusation of Wang Kuei at the Temple” – stories about honour, morality, remorse and desire told through music and song, dance, acrobatics and martial arts.
During a visit to klpac recently, Guoguang Opera CEO Chang Yu-hua expressed happiness over the troupe’s return to Malaysia. “It’s good to be back, and we hope to further familiarise audiences with this form of performing arts,” he said.
Two cast members also offered a glimpse of what audiences can look forward to. Depicting a “Wusheng”, or male martial artist, Li Jia-de showcased his physical prowess by performing acrobatic stunts and movements in his role as a war general – from as simple as crossing the threshold of a doorway, to pretending to ride a horse.
“We can’t actually bring a horse onto the stage, so the way we move needs to be calculated to convince you of the act,” Li explained.
He also shared that their regime as performers can be gruelling: from daily physical training to build stamina, flexibility and endurance, to immersing themselves in a role through acting lessons, it takes years of hard work.
Fellow cast member Lin Ting-yu demonstrated the powerful vocals required of her for her “Dan” role, which refers to a female role in Chinese opera.
Dressed in a beautiful, flowing floral costume, she noted that its long, wide sleeves – known as “water sleeves” – are not just aimed at being aesthetically pleasing.
“During the play, some audiences will be seated quite far from the stage; so wide sleeves and exaggerated movements are necessary to convey my character’s emotions,” she explained.
The costume is also a symbol of class, as only ladies from noble families would have had clothes with such a design, in stark contrast with a maid’s costume.
“Not to mention, we have to be on tiptoes for hours on end because of how tiny her shoes are, to showcase her grace and elegance!” Lin added.
According to Chang, Guoguang Opera Company has been promoting Jingju – or Peking opera, a predominant form of Chinese opera – through performances at home and abroad for close to three decades now.
After their performances at klpac, the troupe heads to Penang to perform at the George Town Festival as one of its international highlights on July 20 & 21.
“So, whether you’re a newbie or longtime opera fan, everyone is welcome to come and enjoy our show. We hope audiences will appreciate our stories, given their focus on themes such as human nature, as well as their simplicity,” he concluded.
‘Jingju Magic: Love and Bewilderment’
Where:
Pentas 1, klpac,
Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan,
51100 Kuala Lumpur
When:
Programme A: July 12 & 13 @ 8pm
Programme B: July 14 @ 3.30pm
For tickets and early-bird promotions, click here.