Actors prepare for a performance of Farewell My Concubine in Beijing last month.(PHOTOS BY ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY)
"When Yu Ji killed herself, she looked at Xiang Yu, the man she loved. As I was so close to the stage, I could see the facial expressions of the actor and actress, which was a very touching moment," Meng said.
The short version of Farewell My Concubinewas produced by Naomi Chung, head of the Xiqu Center at the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong, and was written and directed by actor Keith Lai.
Two hours before the show, Lai sat in front of a dressing room mirror at the theater. Holding a variety of brushes, he applied his makeup as stage workers busied themselves ironing his costumes, testing microphones and adjusting the lighting.
After about an hour, with his face painted black and white, Lai was transformed into the character Xiang Yu, king of the Chu Kingdom, who falls victim to the forces of Liu Bang, the Han king, and prepares to meet Yu Ji, his beloved concubine, for the last time.
Lai, 35, who studied Cantonese Opera as a child and made his stage debut when he was 11, said: "Farewell My Concubineis mostly associated with Peking Opera, not Cantonese Opera. We were not sure if the audience in Beijing would like the show when we first came here. But, surprisingly, they gave us a warm reception and asked lots of questions afterward."
Cantonese Opera, like many traditional Chinese operas, combines singing, martial arts and acting. It is performed mainly in the Cantonese dialect and is popular mostly in Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macao. In September 2009, it was placed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Lai recalled that the first time he performed the show at the theater, accompanied by a six-piece band on both sides of the stage, he was not comfortable with the audience being so close.
"I didn't know where to look, because the audience was so near to the stage. As I gestured to the pounding drums and cymbals, I didn't know if I was moving too quickly for them, or if the music was too loud," Lai said, adding that he had been left in no doubt after the first show, when the audience gave the cast a standing ovation.
Lai, who graduated from City University of Hong Kong with a bachelor's degree in Chinese language, has a hectic schedule of about 200 performances a year.
In addition to Farewell My Concubine, Lai, along with actress Janet Wong, premiered his latest Cantonese Opera, Wenguang Explores the Valley, adapted from the folk tale The Generals of the Yang Family, at Star Theaters on Nov 1.
"The capital has a firm fan base for stage productions presented at smaller theaters, so we decided to premiere our new show there," Lai said.
With three auditoriums, each with a capacity of about 200, Star Theaters, founded 10 years ago, was the first venue of its kind in Beijing and has become a key attraction for drama aficionados who enjoy experimental productions.
