Tapescripts
◆Module 1 Learn to Talk◆
Speaking
Lee: Julia,Have you ever seen Jingju?
Julia:Do you mean Beijing Opera?
Lee:Yes,it's one form of Chinese Xiqu,oh,Xiqu means Chinese traditional theater.
Julia:Of course.Beijing Opera is kind of symbol of China.Isuppose every foreigner would manage to see one.
Lee:Definitely.What do you think of Jingju?
Julia:Well,it is an admirable art and at the same time a difficult abstract art.
Lee:So it is.Jingju synthesizes music,drama,dancing,and acrobatics along with very elaborate costumes and a minimum of props,according to traditions and customs dating back as far as the twelfth century.
Julia:Oh,you guys are lucky to have such wonderful heritage.
Lee:Yes,we are.But there are not many fans of Jingju left.Many people are worried about its future.
Julia:That is a common problem for all classic arts.But I believe there will always be some people who like it and pass it on to the next generation.
Lee:So do I.Listen,my friend gave me two tickets for a Jingju show tonight.Let's go to watch it together,all right?
Julia:I'm afraid that I don't understand it.
Lee:It doesn't matter.Even if you don't understand the words,you can definitely understand it just by watching the action.It is called The Drunken Beauty,a real classic performance.
Julia:“The Drunken Beauty”?It's funny that we have“Sleeping Beauty”in my country.Anyway,what's it about?Is the beauty a drunkard?
Lee:Of course not.She was said to be the most beautiful woman in her time and that made her become the queen.The play is famous for its singing and dancing.And you can enjoy the beautiful facial make⁃ups and costumes,and the wonderful actions.
Julia:Sure.What about the actress?
Lee:She is an opera star in China.Her teacher's teacher is Mei Lanfang.
Julia:Oh,I've heard about him before.He even created a special dance of sleeve shaking.
Lee:You are such an expert on it.I don't know that.
Julia:You know,interest is the best teacher.
Listening
Tens of thousands of theatre⁃goers in Hawaii of the United States have for years been appreciating authentic Peking Opera,without ever stepping foot in China.
The opera is performed at the University of Hawaii at Monoa and the artists,most of whom have been born and raised in the United States,while playing traditional Chinese roles,sing the arias in English.
Recently,they performed Women Generals of the Yang Family,a classical repertoire with thrilling martial arts.It was also the sixth,full⁃length opera show by the university over the years.
The woman behind these productions is former opera artist Shen Xiaomei.
Shen's association with the university began in 1979,when she began training Elizabeth Wichmann⁃Walczak,then a PhD student engaged in research on China.Wichmann⁃Walczak is now a professor and director of the university's Asian Theatre.Her research explores Xiqu or traditional Chinese theatre,especially Jingju or Peking Opera.Within the general area of Xiqu she focuses on contemporary creative practices,performance structure,movement,music and voice,and affective meaning.She has three times led the University of Hawaii's productions of English⁃language Jingju plays on performance tours to China,winning critical acclaim.
Shen and Wichmann⁃Walczak have co⁃operated in the Peking Opera Resident Training Program for six years,making the cream of Chinese performing arts a centerpiece of the university's internationally renowned Asian Theater Program.
They said it was exciting to see the opera inspire students to learn more about China.Students take turns to appear in the Peking Opera shows.Graduate student Nicole Tessier,who plays Yang Zongbao's only surviving son in the newest opera,is an example.
According to Dr.Wichmann⁃Walczak,many students go to China to specialize in Peking Opera or other fields of study about China after their learning and performing experiences at the University of Hawaii.