Staging a classic, with a twist

Half an hour before the Kunqu Opera show started, Shi Shuyue, who specializes in hualian (which translates as "painted face" and refers to actors playing male roles with striking appearances and high social positions), put on his shoulder pads, which make him look like a strong and powerful god.

With his face painted red, black and green, Shi looked in the mirror and decided he was ready to perform as the judge of the underworld courtroom, who investigates the nature of people's deaths and determines their punishments or rewards in the afterlife.

The role is from The Peony Pavilion, which is one of the most-performed Kunqu Opera works by Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) playwright Tang Xianzu.

"Usually, I appear onstage during the second half. But for this adaptation, I am the first character the audience will see," says Shi, who has been performing with the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre, a Beijing-based theater company and the only professional platform in northern China dedicated to the roughly 600-year-old genre that originated in the country's south. The art form is inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The stage adaptation of The Peony Pavilion has been tailored specially for the Zhengyici Theater, also known as Temple Theater Beijing Opera House, which is believed to be the only wooden theater of its kind preserved in the country, and is over 300 years old.

As Shi stands on the second floor, he strikes a gong three times and narrates the opening line of the show. As the lights dim, he steps down from the stage. When the lights turn on again, the protagonist, a beautiful young woman named Du Liniang, appears.

In The Peony Pavilion Du falls in love with Liu Mengmei, a handsome scholar she meets in a dream. She wakes up and finds that her longing for the man is so strong that it gradually causes her to fall ill and die. After her death, she persuades the judge of the underworld to grant her permission to return as a ghost to find him. She eventually finds Liu, who is staying at the family temple where she is buried. The two stay together lovingly for a while. When he opens Du's coffin, his love for her is so powerful that it brings her back to life, and they live happily ever after.

According to Zhang Peng, director of the stage adaptation and general manager of Zhengyici Theater, this version of The Peony Pavilion was premiered about 10 years ago by the Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre. After the company took over management of Zhengyici in 2019 and reopened the venue in 2022 following repairs and renovation, it has become a regular show, and attracts many viewers.

"The story of The Peony Pavilion is well-known to the audience, and there are many different versions. Those who want to come here to watch The Peony Pavilion not only wish to enjoy the classic story again, but also to get a glimpse of the old theater, which presents a different experience of watching The Peony Pavilion," says Zhang.

During the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Saturday, The Peony Pavilion will be staged at the Zhengyici Theater as part of the venue's programs celebrating Lunar New Year.

Yu Xuejiao plays the role of Du, and Shao Zheng plays Liu.

"During one of the acts, Walking in the Garden, I walk down the stage and perform close to the audience. I'm so close that the audience can see my pimples," says Yu. "I have to control my movements, such as throwing my long sleeves and turning my body. It's a very interesting experience to perform at the Zhengyici Theater. Everything about it makes the show very special."

Located in the hutong (traditional alleyway) area of Qianmen, a popular destination in downtown Beijing, the theater was built in 1688 on the ruins of a Buddhist temple, which was initially a guild hall, or a gathering place for business people from Zhejiang province and later became a place for them to pay tribute to their ancestors with performances. It has a long history that includes performances by Peking Opera masters, such as Mei Lanfang (1894-1961) and Tan Xinpei (1847-1917).

According to Zhang, the theater has a capacity of about 150 seats, with two stories of chairs on three sides of the stage. A variety of performances have been staged since the reopening in April 2022. In addition to Kunqu Opera shows, the theater has also hosted violin recitals, dances and performances of traditional Chinese musical instruments.

On the reopening day in April 2022, the classic Kunqu Opera, Tianguan Cifu, or Heavenly God Blesses the People, was performed alongside The Peony Pavilion.

From Feb 10 to 15, Tianguan Cifu will be presented again at the Zhengyici.

The theater has also served as a place for worshipping Zhao Gongming — the God of Wealth. A painting of the god riding a tiger can be seen at the theater. In the image, Zhao holds a gold ingot, a symbol of wealth, in his left hand and a gnarled cudgel, his signature weapon, in his right.

"Tianguan Cifu is all about good luck, auspiciousness and good fortune since it involves many Chinese gods, including Zhao Gongming, expressing good wishes. It will be the first time for us to stage it at the theater during Spring Festival," says Zhang.

He adds that special arrangements have been made, including special choreography and plots involving audience interaction.