The Artistic Quintessence of the Southern School of Cantonese Opera: “Wu Song”
Xiqu
Description
Description
Scene1: The Drinking Hut
Wu Song runs into trouble and flees to the countryside. He stops by a drinking hut as he walks pass Jingyang Ridge. Wu Song loves his drinks. Ignoring the hut keeper’s reminder that three shots of the drink can make one too drunk to go pass the ridge, Wu Song consumes much and is quite drunken before he walks up the ridge.
Scene 2: Beating the Tiger
Rumour has it there is a human-eating tiger at Jingyang Ridge. Believing he has strong martial skills, the drunken Wu Song picks up his pace to go through the ridge. The tiger does appear and dashes towards him. Wu Song uses his martial skills and beats the tiger to death. This is a scene that demonstrates the special southern school routine called Beating the Tiger. This paichang routine is usually used in the opera troupe ritual known as White Tiger Ritual. However, the ritual is usually done in closed doors. It is very rare that the audience could catch a glimpse.
Scene 3: Walk of Victory
The county governor of Yanggu County learns of how Wu Song killed the tiger for the people with a single staff. Wu Song is honoured with the title of “Chief Wu”. Wu is also rewarded a walk of victory down town, wearing triumphant attires and accessories. As he walks victoriously, Wu Song encounters his elder brother Wu Dalang. Dalang tells him that he was married. The two brothers reunite. Wu Song agrees to visit his new sister-in-law.
Scene 4: The Seduction
Wu’s new sister-in-law Pan Jinlian is not too happy about the looks of her husband Wu Dalang. As flirtatious as she is, Pan Jinlian lays eyes on the handsome and strong Wu Song. She tries to seduce Wu Song, but Wu Song is impervious and leaves immediately. This is a major scene of the whole play. Traditional singing skills, hand gestures are performed here. It is a very complete paichang routine.
Scene 5: The Affair
Pan Jinlian drops her bamboo rod when she is putting out her laundry to dry in the sun. Ximen Qing is hit. The flirtatious woman meets this play boy through Granny Wang. An affair is started secretly.
Scene 6: The Murder
Hawker Brother Hun sees Ximen Qing going out with Pan Jinlian and alerts Wu Dalong of what he sees. Wu Dalang catches adultery in the act. Ximen Qing is an owner of an herbal shop. He poisons and kills Wu Dalang.
Scene 7: The Funeral
Wu Song returns home from business and finds his brother dead. He is shocked and cries his heart out at the shrine of his brother. Wu Song’s colleague Wang Xiang comes to pay his respect. The ghost of Wu Dalang appears and scares away Wang Xiang. Dalang tells how he was killed. The next morning, Wu Song uses the excuse of thanking townsfolks for taking care of the funeral of Wu Dalang to ask everyone to come to his brother’s home. He interrogates the undertaker Uncle He Jiu and makes him speak out what has really happened to Dalang. Wu Song locks everyone in the house so that they can guard Pan Jinlian. Wu Song goes out to look for Ximen Qing.
Scene 8: Lion Pavilion
Ximen Qing knows that Wu Song is back. He feels very anxious and drinks at the Lion Pavilion. Wu Song comes to find him. The two fight. Wu Song successfully avenges for his brother and kills Ximen Qing. Two actors perform the body movements of the southern school, including the paichang known as Beating on the Closed Door.
Scene 9: Killing the Sister-in-law
Wu Song returns home for the final revenge. He kills Granny Wang and Pan Jinlian before making his confession at the yamen. The huadan (leading female) shows her grand body movements in this scene. There are the official Killing the Sister-in-law paichang. The rap-like chanting known as Shu Bailan is performed in the format of Guba. This type of Shu Bailan rapping is later named Killing the Sister-in-law Bailan.
Details of other production units are only available in Chinese
Info
$120
$320
Indoor
Local
