'The Execution of the Judge of Hell'

The Judge of Hell unfairly judges a case that involves the death of a young woman, Liu Jinchan, killed by the son of the Judge of Hell. Liu's beloved cousin is framed as the killer and sentenced to death.

Bao's investigates the case and is assisted by Youliugui, a lamplighter and witness to everything that has happened.

Western elements

The play brings in Western stage elements under the foreign director. Differing from the original script where Bao Gong is the leading character, Youliugui plays the main character in the updated version.

"Bao Gong has the power to judge the living and the dead, and he was the hero of the play. But I wanted Youliugui, the minor character, to become the main character," said Oppenheim.

Despite Youliugui's secondary role in the original plot, he is an indispensable character who provides narration and resolution.

"He's the link, the one who tells Bao Gong what happened. Since Bao Gong is like a god and a hero to Chinese people, there's a huge distance between ordinary people and him." Oppenheim said.

But a small lamplighter belongs to people. As the common, everyday hero, there will be less distance between the audiences and the characters, she said.

The mode of storytelling also draws from Western stage plays. Usually in a Peking opera the story unfolds in a gradual and slow way, but Oppenheim makes it more accessible to foreign audiences, according to Han.

"What happens in hell is performed by Peking opera actors, and what happens on earth is portrayed by shadow puppets," Han said.

Oppenheim said she wanted to deliver the message that people living in the real world cannot always live as they want.

At times, they are controlled, just like puppets and the female character Liu Jinchan. Liu's life is controlled by her father, and she is unable to live with the one she loves.

"The tour marks the completion of the play," said Wang Xuehua, leading actor of the play Youliugui. "We are seeking the best way to express tradition culture to modern people."

New experimental elements are included in this month's performance, like modern music that incorporates the guitar and piano, and pingshu, a traditional storytelling performance.