Kunqu opera is the performance of mixed art

Kunqu opera is the earliest drama in China and it integrates literature, music, singing, dance, performance,etc.Bamboo Kunqu opera flute is the main instrument of accompaniment. Besides, the graceful music also relies on string and wind instruments such as reed pipe, SanXian, Erhu and Pipa. The rhythm is based on percussion instruments such as drums and planks, small cymbals, China cymbals and big cymbals.  With literary lines, splendid costumes, colorful makeup, the actors’ remarkable performance are shown by attractive vocal music and graceful figures on the spacious stage.

 

Kunqu opera represents multi-media art

Performance of Kunqu opera based on musical instruments

Stage of Kunqu opera is not limited to time and space

Chinese opera is based on the characters.  The environment is shown by simple and representative properties on the stage.  The same tables and chairs can represent the study room, law court, mountain and bridge. When characters walk around the stage, it means that they move thousands of miles or they might simply walk in the yard. It can be several days or only one minute. The stage can be separated. When one character sits on the chair and the other walks in front of him(her), they cannot see each other. There can be a wall between them. It is a “changeable stage” and the imaginative places, environments and time change constantly around the characters. It means the new environments change around the characters and it does not mean the characters approach the new environments.

 

Simple stage setting

Change of tables and chairs shows different scenes of the time

Performance of Kunqu opera is based on interaction with audiences

Performance of Kunqu opera is influenced by performing arts with speaking and singing. It is different from the theory of “Four Walls” in modern drama. The stage of “Four Walls” is the simulation of a real world surrounded by invisible walls.  The actors should be separated from the existence of the audiences. However, in Chinese traditional drama, “interaction between actors and audiences” is essential. In other words, the wall between actors and audiences do not exist and the actors’ performance should be based on the audiences who encourage the actors with applause.

 

Actors’ lively performance is extremely important

Actors can interact with the audiences on the stage or behind the scene

Actors of Kunqu opera focus on delicacy of movements and poses in the performance

Everything in the environment must be based on imagination. Thus, it relies on imaginative techniques. For instance, when a character raises the leg to pass the threshold and turns to pretend to close the door, it means he (she) walks in the room and closes the door. It is the “action of exaggeration”. Performance of Kunqu opera should show “elegant actions, specific implication, precise identity and proper personality and emotion”. In the performance, the time, place and things are shown by imaginative actions, such as opening the door, going upstairs, drinking and appreciating the flowers. The actions should be specific and comprehensible for the audiences. Identity mean the figures should meet the ages and identities of the characters in the play. In other words, the actors should become the characters. Proper personality and emotion mean the actors should show the characters’ personality and emotion.

 

Sophisticated movement and facial expression are important for the actors

Remarkable performance highlights the plots and characters

Modeling and actions of Kunqu opera actors should specifically present the characters in the play

In  Chinese drama, the character’s inner personalities are consistent with their outer modeling. With “specific modeling”, when the characters walk on the stage, the audiences can recognize them by their modeling, costumes, property and actions. When the actors sing, they should rely on appropriate property and accompaniment of music which match the type, personality, age and identity of the characters. The vivid characters can thus be created by the actors’ interpretation and be recognized by the audiences.

 

The actors have regular costumes of characters

The costumes show the characters’ social status, identity and occupation

 

Reference:
Kunqu Opera Study Clubhttp://www.kunqu.org/bspecial.html

Source of Photos:
Lanting Kunqu Opera Troupe
http://www.kk.gov.tw/
https://www.lanting.at.tw/2009382632998327583.html
https://kunqu.org/byxjcy02c.html
https://kunqu.org/bcsdwl01c.html
https://kunqu.org/baudin09c.html
Daily headlines
https://kknews.cc/entertainment/mglr96.html
https://kknews.cc/culture/pqkyrje.html
https://kknews.cc/entertainment/3xyb9x8.html
https://kknews.cc/entertainment/3xyb9x8.html
Performing Arts Critichttps://pareviews.ncafroc.org.tw/?p=24530
ETtoday新聞雲https://www.ettoday.net/news/20180605/1184784.htm

Go Top