By James Casey
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 26, 1998

Eastern theatrics:

So you think you've seen it all?

Tomorrow night, the Peking Opera Company of Hebei brings its ancient art of Chinese opera to town, as part of its first national tour in over 10 years. The performance combines traditional Chinese music with dance, dialogue, song, acrobatics, lavish costumes and vibrant colors.

Acting, song and dance have been a deep-rooted part of Chinese culture for well over 2000 years. Chinese theatre was primarily termed "opera" due to the fact that spoken plays were introduced into China only in the past 100 years. The variety in Chinese theatre is one of the most amazing aspects of the art; this is clearly seen by the menagerie of literature, music, acting and singing in the troupe's shows.

The arduous process of becoming a member of the Peking Opera involves one of the hardest types of training in all varieties of theatre. One must look good in costume and makeup while singing and dancing. Possessing a variety of facial expressions and the ability to execute hundreds of stage positions are integral. Ten years of acrobatic training is usually necessary and most performers start at a very young age. Jackie Chan started his career in the Peking Opera at the age of 10 and still claims it to be one of the reasons for his success.

The Tucson show will contain a sampling of several plays offered by the Peking Opera. In their full form, the operas can last for an entire day. The troupe is accompanied by a full orchestra equipped with many traditional Chinese instruments which are placed on the right hand side of the stage to accompany the performing artists. The first 20 minutes will be an improvised performance by the orchestra followed by the entrance of an emcee. The emcee (Lita Fong) will introduce each scene, detailing the story, characters and the endings to each of the four pieces performed.

The first piece is "The Sword is a Gift from Bai Hua." This story is based on the attempts of a warlord named An Xi to overthrow the government, and how his daughter's actions led to his failure. The piece is generally music-based with little acrobatics or action involved. It is also considered to be one of the more beautiful operas of its kind.

The second piece, "Stealing the Stored Silver" and the last piece, "Havoc in Heaven," are more action-packed, combining martial arts with breath-taking acrobatics. Tumbling, Kung Fu and racy action will be at the center of these segments, with the added attraction of performers doing simultaneous backflips over a 6-foot wall.

One truly impressive part of the performance is the humongous cast, with each member lavishly decked out in make-up and ornate costumes. The first impression you might get is of being caught in medieval China during a bizarre cultural festival. The impression it leaves you with could be one of the most interesting and unforgettable kind.

Peking Opera takes the stage at Centennial Hall Friday at 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $24. Students with ID may purchase tickets at half price. Call 621-3341 for more info.