Date: 2020.11.30

Location: National Taiwan College of Performing Arts

Interviewee: Ms. Ming-Fang Kuo

Performance expertise: Dan Jiao

Teacher Guo's commentary on the problem professional

Learn more about opera actors through interviews

1.Why did you learn Chinese opera in National Taiwan College of Performing Arts? Did your family support you?
Answer:I learned Chinese opera in the college since I had enjoyed watching Chinese opera when I was a kid and my father loved it too. Thus, he took me to learn Chinese opera in the school. At the time, I was supported by the family and it launched my career of Chinese opera.

2.What were the initial courses to be a Chinese opera actor? How long does it take?
Answer:The curriculum of complete training is usually based on 12-year educational system. Thus, after attending the college, the main courses refer to performance. In elementary school, it trains the students with basic courses. For instance, it introduces basic skills of traditional Chinese opera, mat-work acrobatics and handling weapon skills. In junior high school, students learn the roles of “male, female, painted face and clown” and the performance skills of “four skills in performing and five acting rules”; in senior high school, the students must study 6~8 plays, including singing and martial art plays, of their majors. It emphasizes their internship to gain the experiences on the stage. In the college, they learn the creation courses related to performing art, such as script creation, Chinese opera directing, stage lighting, costumes, creation of plays, art administration and world performing art. They practice the internship and create new plays to enhance the competence in modern theatres. Besides professional courses of Chinese opera, in every semester, students have regular “performances” of internship which trains their stage performance and personal creation.

3.What are the qualifications to be professional actors performing on the stage?
Answer:Generally speaking, the roles depend on your qualifications. For instance, physical flexibility leads to the performance of speaking, singing and fighting. Perfection of voice determines the performance of speaking and singing. Makeup of the roles depends on the appearances. These are the actors’ basic qualification. In addition, the actors should control the affection of the characters and the competence to express the feelings in order to impress the audiences. Thus, remarkable actors can transform the plays into excellent operas.

4.How do the actors prepare before the performance?
Answer:First, we should be familiar with the roles and scripts, prepare the acting in advance, control the emotion and properly show the performing skills. In addition, we should memorize the lines and repetitively practice the speaking and singing. Finally, before the formal performance, we have complete rehearsal. We should perform the complete story, wear costumes and use property and makeup. Once the rehearsal is accomplished, the formal performance is ready.

5.When learning traditional opera, what are the most significant challenge or obstacles?
Answer:Actors should have complete training and be healthy. Since it is live performance, we should be at the best state all the time. Besides, actors’ voice and speaking should be well trained. The keys are impressive speaking and singing which are usually the obstacles when learning the Chinese opera. It requires learning and training.

6.How do you cope with the moment when you forget the lines on the stage?
Answer:Generally speaking, when performing on the stage, the actors must memorize the lines. Since it is live performance, it will be a serious matter when we forget the lines. Thus, we should memorize the scripts in advance. When we forget the lines, we continue speaking or use other lines. It is the training for our impromptu performance.

7.What are your suggestions for people who intend to attend National Taiwan College of Performing Arts?
Answer:I suggest the people who intend to attend National Taiwan College of Performing Arts to have the passion in performance. They should endure hard time and receive severe drilling and daily constant self-training. They can go to the college if they will fulfill the above.

8.What are your goals to be a professional actor?
Answer:My objective is to become a remarkable actor. I hope that I will present the best performance on the stage to introduce the excellent play to the audiences. I expect myself to be an actor who can touch the audiences and be recognized.

 

Interviewee Ms. Ming-Fang Kuo of National Taiwan College of Performing Arts,Personal.

Source of Photos:Photographed by the research team

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