"Mei Lanfang"—A New Production of Peking Opera

The Center for Chinese Studies invites the University community and public to attend the fourth talk in our Spring 2008 China Research Seminar series.

Elizabeth Wichmann-Walczak
Manoa Department of Theatre and Dance

Re-acting an Actor’s Reaction to the Occupation: the Beijing Jingju Company’s “Mei Lanfang”

The Jingju (Beijing/Peking “opera”) performer Mei Lanfang is the most famous Chinese actor of the 20th century. An acclaimed dan (young female role) actor, he grew a mustache rather than perform for the Japanese during the occupation.

In 2004, the Beijing Jingju Company premiered a production based on Mei Lanfang’s patriotic resistance. Alternating musical quotations from traditional and revolutionary Jingju with original symphonic music, the production also references geisha, Kabuki, and Noh performance. The result is a startling commentary on cross-cultural aesthetic perception, with visual distortions that both confront and enhance a modern rewriting of historical events. In short, it is the first truly postmodern Jingju production.

Event Sponsor
Center for Chinese Studies, Manoa

More Information
Daniel Tschudi, 956-8891, dtschudi@hawaii.edu, Mei Lanfang (PDF)

Ongoing Events