One winter, a young maiden and her maid takes a walk by the West Lake. She found an autumn life that has survived the bitter cold season. How strong, hardy and enduring this leaf is. She composes a wishful love poem on the autumn leaf and cast it off in the West Lake.
The Chinese opera was performed in Hainanese, an amazing shrill
high pitched yet beautiful Chinese dialect sung in an opera.
This opera was brought to Penang for the Georgetown Festival.
high pitched yet beautiful Chinese dialect sung in an opera.
This opera was brought to Penang for the Georgetown Festival.
It was staged in the Yap Clan house. The audience sits in a horseshoe and the actors
perform right in the middle, bringing the opera to the front of the audience. This is
really excellent as one gets to observe close up the intricacies of the long white sleeves
that speaks volumes of emotions, and the artful glances of the young maiden that
unveils the affection and tenderness of her feelings, sometimes coy and at times passionate.
The notable scholar decides to take a boat ride on the West Lake on his way to a dinner party
to celebrate the birthday of a court official. He chance upon the poem on autumn leaf floating by,
and retrieves it. He, of course, was touched by the depth of desire mounted in the poem. He recites
the poem and the young maiden's handmaid overhears it and reports this to her mistress.
The young mistress is intrigued by this scholar who is enamoured by her composition.
The handmaid plan a meeting for them in the garden on a moon lit night. The scholar
recognise the young lady as the daughter of the court official whose birthday he has come to attend.
The handmaid plan a meeting for them in the garden on a moon lit night. The scholar
recognise the young lady as the daughter of the court official whose birthday he has come to attend.
The couple 'accidentally bumped' into one another, and danced a beautiful courtship
in the garden under the moonlight. pledging their devotion to one another.
A wedding is arranged.
Unfortunately, the fatuous emperor decrees that the young maiden is to be made
his seventh concubine on her wedding day. The scholar protested and was stripped of
his academic rank and banished. The lovers were heartbroken and decide to take their lives.
They made the tragic decision to jump into the West Lake so they can be together forever.
It was a very entertaining and meaningful opera, seeing that these actors
are from the newly formed Hainanese Opera Troupe in Singapore.