I've now experienced two versions of Peking Opera. The first is Andrew's hilarious spoof - high-pitched screeching of total jibberish. Having seen an opera live on our last night in Beijing on Sunday, Andrew's version isn't too far off. Think Sarah Palin/Tina Fey and you get the drift.
The small wooden theatre - one of the oldest Peking Opera theatres in China - has preserved the charming old Chinese architecture. Walking past the courtyard, you enter the performance area. Square dining tables and chairs face a small stage with a yellow patterned silk backdrop. Waitresses bring small plates of prunes and peanuts for you to snack on with tea.
Beijing opera combines song, dance, martial arts, acrobatic with comedy and mime. The set is very minimal; settings are mimed and you are required to imagine where the characters are - whether the sea shore or the Elflands.
I found the show quite enjoyable, especially the acrobatics. The actors at our show - all male, including those in female roles - were great. Thankfully, there was a subtitle screen above the stage, so we could follow along.
The show itself was short - an hour - which made it pricy ($75 CAN). There are also modern theatres in Beijing that offer the same brand of opera. But seeing it at this theatre - with its long history - made the experience more meaningful and authentic.
Leaving the theatre, the guests - predominantly foreigners - pulled an Andrew and started their own ad hoc production of Beijing Opera. But Andrew still does it best.
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