The Scholar Maid
Posted on Jun 02, 2009 under Art, Culture, Entertainment, Travel | No CommentEvery September and October Singapore hosts its annual International Cantonese Opera Festival. The Chinese Theatre Circle, which had its start in 1981, developed and organizes this cultural event. Traditional Cantonese opera is a standard element in Singapore’s society and is also extremely attractive to tourists who are staying in one of the best Singapore hotels. In addition to hosting the annual festival, the Chinese Theatre Circle is also the busiest opera company in Singapore. It gained its non-profit status in 1995 and has been offering an abundance of excellent productions since then.
There is a spectacular display of symbolic and colorful costumes in Chinese Opera, and while a tourist may wonder at their beauty, their social significance is a central component of their design. This is true also for the many graceful and harmonious movements that are incorporated into the dance. Most often the stories and plots of these operas relate to traditional Chinese themes and are based on the ancient classics. This is manifested not only in the movements and costumes but also in the set designs. Every aspect of the opera is stylized and employs an economy of gesture. A moral lesson is often incorporated into the theme and so are elements of patriotism, loyalty and honor.
One of the more popular productions that was produced by the Chinese Theatre Circle was the 2007 performance of The Scholar Maid. Hong Kong playwright, Mr. Tang Di Sheng, wrote the original script, and CTC’s Mr. Leslie Wong condensed it into a tour hour production. The story depicts a well known academic, Tang Bo Hu of the Ming Dynasty, who falls in love with a woman he met a court, Jui Xiang. He disguises himself as a servant in the home of the Prime Minister to win her heart. The Scholar Maid is a comedy, and as such includes many obstacles and situations that get in the way of Hu’s pursuit. Ultimately though, his plans succeed and true to its genre, the opera has a happy ending. One of the songs from this opera, Meeting at the Temple, continues to be a hit with Cantonese opera lovers.
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