Just A Bit Of Me

I named this blog as "The Opera Stage"
所谓人生如戏，戏如人生。人生有如舞台一般多姿多彩，甜酸苦辣。

I came across some who asked me such questions;

"Besides your passion for Chinese Opera and performing arts, what else do you like?"


"You seem to blog mostly on operas but what about other areas of interest?"

XJ mentioned that my social circle is small and unlike AC and the rest, they do blog about other areas of interest whereas for me, I blog mainly on operas.

Perhaps I can tell you a little bit more about me so that next time do not ask me why I only blog on chinese opera and not on my other stuff. The rights lie with me, isn't it? (LOL)

I am indeed very passionate about my chinese operas and Takarazuka. I blog mainly on them and sometimes may get emotionally overwhelmed when I watch a super nice/lousy show.

I am not comfortable to blog about my work though I have experienced joys as well as frustrations along the way.

It's true that sometimes I do blog about KH stuff but as you know in the world of internet, spies exists and I do try to keep my views to its minimal. I don't think I would like the idea of getting a coffee treat from the TOP KH personnel and I can tell you that it isn't fun to sip coffee or tea during a solemn conference..Perhaps tears may add to it to give it a final spice. (LOL)

I seldom watch Korean shows and not keen to be a “韩剧小生” as watching some shows are good for entertainment purposes but I am not going to make it a major part of my life as they won't prove to be useful to my opera career in the long run.

Perhaps when it comes to opera performing, I am more practical and I am not the kind to sit in the well and think that the moon is just this big.

That's why I save some money that is enough to bring me out of the country to catch shows and I do find this a fulfiling mission which I enjoy.

I seldom go window shopping as I am quite a lazybone and do not have the stamina to roam in shopping malls the whole day. But I do go out with my buddies to drink and chat about common topics.

Some may think that I spend lots of time with my KH kakis...which in fact can be true or not really true depends on how you see it.

KH indeed demands lots of our time and perhaps explain why we get to see each other often. We don't hang out at shopping malls because most of the time we hang out on the rehearsal grounds.

My other group of friends , the ones that I would go for cinemas, coffee and chitchatting complains that they hardly see me. But they are a bunch of nice kakis as they understand my situation and always gives in. On the other word, I deprive them of enjoyable time that can be spent on other stuff. I am greatly touched as they do not question on my time spent on KH.

The time that I spend with my family is even lesser than my KH, work and friends. My mum nags alot and never stops and yet my situation remains unchanged. I will not bring such topic to KH as KH cares more on its operations than your own private family ties. In another word, it is solely just amai's business and no one else. I think it is fair enough as KH has tons of things to worry about.

XJ is a workaholic and you can only get to see her during rehearsals. So once a while if she could make it to your dinner gatherings is like striking lottery. That's why I don't ask too much now. ^^

Sometimes she bores u to tears smsing topics that only she and the dans are interested in but it is always pleasant to get her smses.

WMY is my buddy sheng, someone that I could talk a little bit more in KH. I don't quarrel with the TOP but we are simply not buddies as our way of thinking is just too far apart.

Leader is someone that KHers fear but also at the same time we listen to at times. Compared to the rest of the KHers, I am bolder and I think I make her blow her top sometimes. Her management is good and perhaps that's why we work so hard and yet don't run. KH may be taxing on our attention and time but it does provide us with good learning environment and the best of all, we don't have to worry about jeopardies as schedules of rehearsals and practices are well-managed.

K has been doing some gatherings for us and it has indeed sparkled our lives. I do enjoy the gatherings that she planned and sometimes those remind me not to spend too much time in work and opera, hence striking a balance in life.

Having kakis , be it in work or opera, is very important and essentials. They are your source of happiness, confidence and courage. If not for the kakis in my troupe, my life opera-ing in the troupe would be duller.

ML is my bestest friend of all because no one would go this far for me. She is the most unselfish friend that I have come across in my entire life. To others, she may seem to be stern and unfriendly. But if you know her character, she is a nice friend. She has pride and someone may mistake that as been egoistic. I take her pride as her backbone - 有骨气。 When the rest turn their backs towards me, she is the only one to help me get up. I am a forgiving person but I don't forget easily. I am a trusting person and yet some can take advantage on it.

I am a scorpion and scorpion supposed to "terrorise" people but I think I don't live up to it. (LOL)

I joke alot, I laugh alot but I also cry alot.


I am a SURFER...some deem me as internet addict. I simply love to be online and blog on topics that I　want to share. I　have made so many friends in internet, many of them share the same interest as me. To my surprise, many know me when I went to Taiwan to perform. Guess I made a name for myself somewhere somehow.

I can be a panic Queen and stress out alot. This is mainly because I want to do my job well. It is distressing and agonising when you are not being appreciated and awarded with words that you truely deserve it. But I have gone through the hard way and am trying hard in the midst to cope with it. No point whining over things that are unjust knowing very well that nothing can be changed much.

I encourage myself by telling myself to try my very best. Be it in work or in opera. ^^

蝴蝶梦-顺乎大道

This show is so beautifully filmed...A very romantic setting. ^^

WFH's Wu Song

The officially released vcd of "Wu Song kills his sister-in-law" isn't starred by WFH. WFH presented his performance of the same above-mentioned titled in Singapore last year. Too bad I missed it as I was having a rehearsal then.
I am so thrilled to find this clip online and would like to take this opportunity to showcase it to my readers. ^^

Disco Style Song Feng Guan

During the late 80s to early 90s, techno midi like the above was put to a test. I'm sort of glad that it was scrapped off...I still prefer the soothing and melodious tunes than this "pong chia chia" music.

Yueju's Song Feng Guan

I like this part best in Biyuzan. Be it Yueju or Xiangju, I like this scene very much. The lyrics and the tunes are nice, of course, you have to sing it well. (LOL)

WFH's Hilarious Jia Baoyu

When I first saw this, I laughed my head off...
WFH was so calm...she just sang per normal...(LOL)

Good News To The KHers

Perhaps this is not a new piece of news to some of the KHers, still I would like to share this piece of news with my blog's readers.
LZ had been staged successfully at CP CC and there were many positive overwhelming responses and the CP's audience is coming over to Bukit Panjang CC to watch our "Dragon Lady".
It is indeed a boost in our morale and Leader is very pleased with it. She has made 30 calls to inform her friends about the coming performance and I would like to do my part by putting up at my blog the information of our "Dragon Lady" performance.

Show: "The Romance of the Dragon Lady"
Date: 10th Dec 2006
Venue: Bukit Panjang CC
Time: 7.30pm

3 big cheers to Hokkien Opera. ^^

Other Characters In LZ

Oooopss..."Han Diao" is about to come...AC is about to get ready to "ah.....ah...ah...ah...ah...ahahah....."



Presented to you our KH's most bitter xiaosheng, all ready to weep because he failed to get Yingtai's hands in marriage.



It's time to go into "metamorphosis"...needs about 2 scenes to transform from a caterpillar to a butterfly. ;P



The funniest part of the show being the musicians. SH, you are very very expressive desu sio...(LOL)

The Two Yingtais

Here was Yingtai No. 1

Her hairdo was more glam though fit into the traditional category.

(Who dares to comment so much...I don't dare...LOL)



I have toned down alot...no more chopsticks yozz... Perhaps I fell into a more trendy category. Just like one of them actually describes me as "wild". (LOL)

Yinxin N Sijiu

XJ complained of being short and fat due to the short pants that she wore on Sunday. Of course you can't see how short or fat in this picture cos ML didn't take the whole picture of her.
But anyway...who cares about a short-cum-fat Yinxin if Yinxin delivers her show well, right? (LOL)

Hardworking But Sloggy WMY

Look at WMY, she is always ever-ready to serve her "customers" right. WMY was in charge of the exhibition last Sunday. She took long hours to prepare the opera exhibits. She was working very late into the night on Performance Day Eve, cutting and pasting papers. In addition she still had to act the following afternoon opera excerpt in Woodlands.
I heard that she suffered from bad headaches and after her performance, she went straight to CC to set up the booth. Of course the others also chipped in to help. AC was sick too and had a bad flu. XJ and Ni had to stay up late to amend the translations.
Frankly speaking, to be a KHer isn't that simple. We are expected to excel not only in performance but also in admin stuff. Not only that, our time and attention is heavily "taxed" and most of our holidays are subsequently burnt for rehearsals.


Congrats WMY, you sure got yourself a "贤内助”。。。


Well see how beaming WMY was. (LOL)

Yingtai Again

I think my Yingtai flopped...............

My makeup flopped.........

My singing flopped........

And I'm fatter..........

.....sob....sob....sob....sob....

One reason why I'm so so so frustrated acting a dan...because I cannot get FAT!!!!!

Exclusively For Me

My TW friend was so lovely. She actually took a picture of Yarong for me. She told Yarong that she was going to take this picture exclusively just for amai. ^^

Thanks buddy!!!

蓉少： 蓉少加油！！！！^^

TW ZephyrOpera

Do not be misled by the word "ZephyrOpera". It isn't a new opera genre. It is a name of a TW Opera Troupe formed by a group of passionate and creative university graduates.
I was lucky to catch their Experimental GZX [飞蛾洞] during the TW Sept Fest. I like the show very much. Their show concept is rather creative, new and daring. Conservative audience may find it hard to appreciate but I definitely like their performing style.

Here are some pictures of the above-mentioned show.





Though ZephyrOpera Troupe is an amatuer troupe , their performing standard is rather high. I was surprised and pleased at the same time. Who says that amatuer troupes cannot produce results. After watching the show, I was so touched. The sheng in blue costume is their Top and I can tell you that she is really not bad. Quite a all-rounder and she does deserve her TOP title.

Recently they put up another show - The Legend of Thief Rosa

I like their costumes...remind me so much of Takarazuka.



Look at this supporting sheng of ZephyrOpera Troupe. Isn't she cool? She may not be the TOP in the troupe but I think she looks excellent in this picture. In addition, I like this costume alot. ^^



I recommended this show to my TW friend...and off she went to watch the show and she likes it a great deal.


My TW friend managed to take a picture of the above sheng in blue.



The one on the left is the supporting sheng in blue and that's how she looks like offstage. Cute-looking, rite? ^^

Pictures extracted from the TW ZephyrOpera Website & courtesy from amai's TW friend. ^^

Actually ......

Actually I would want to try to act GZX but......
don't think I have such an opportunity to try out in my troupe as xiangju is a much more focus area.

I envy Yarong and Kun who do GZX in TW. At least they have the proper surrounding to pursue what they want. ^^

Unlike me where Hokkien opera isn't that popular compared to TW. There are many fans who like Hokkien Opera...But there isn't many outstanding Hokkien opera artistes in Singapore which I feel it is really a pity.

Anyway, I wish Yarong success in her performance tomorrow and wish Kun the best in pursuing what she loves most. ^^

Secret Love In Peach Blossom Land

by Performance Workshop Theatre and Ming Hua Yuan
Taiwan
23 & 24 Feb 07, Fri & Sat, 3pm matinee (Sat only) & 8pm, Theatre

In a theatre, two theatre groups are mistakenly booked into the same venue for rehearsal. One is rehearsing for Secret Love, a melodramatic contemporary play about an old man's dying wish to see an old sweetheart lost to him forty years in 1940s Shanghai during the war. The other is rehearsing for Peach Blossom Land, a traditional Hokkien opera comedy based on the classic Chinese story in which a cuckolded fisherman stumbles upon a secret island paradise, lives there happily for awhile, and then leaves to fetch his wife so she can join him on the island utopia.

Amidst much squabbling, the two groups resign themselves to dividing up stage time so that both can rehearse in spite of the other's presence. At points, the two productions merge in a comic clash of contrasting dialogue and styles. However, as tragic scenes of an old man yearning for a lost love and farcical episodes of a fisherman who, having departed the secret paradise, cannot find his way back there again knit together, a surprising and complex new dialogue emerges from the chaos. Beneath the tears and laughter throbs a bittersweet yearning.

Secret Love In Peach Blossom Land is arguably the most famous play in modern Chinese theatre. Exquisitely written and directed in 1986 by playwright Stan Lai, and adapted into an award-winning (Golden Horse1992 and Berlin Film Festival1993) movie starring Lin Ching-Hsia in 1991, this production has touched the heartstrings of audiences everywhere. 20 years after its debut, this classic theatrical work remains fresh and relevant today, poignant in all its layers of meaning.

Performed in Mandarin and Hokkien, with English and Chinese surtitles.
(150mins, with intermission)

Tickets at $30, $45, $60, $80

Extracted from the Esplanade Website.

Prince Kun Again

I spotted this nice picture at Kun's place so I decided to paste up here.
Anyway, Prince Kun would drop by to take a little lookie...^^

Prince Kun, I don't care!!! I want to watch your GZX!

Heard that it was well-received. ^^

Gao Jia Opera Artiste - Li Li

I like Li Li and I think she is quite a pretty dan. ^^

阿育王

I saw this on a Yueju Magazine weeks ago and was quite curious to know how this show was featured. It is an Indian legend. I am not so sure about its story but I think Zhang Xiaojun looks quite good here.^^

Amai's Yingtai

Did a trial this afternoon. I was doing my makeup in the midst of rehearsal.

Somebody or rather "somebodies" commented behind my back that my hairdo was too trendy especially the chopsticks and my ponytail. To some of them, the hairdo was too elaborate and should stick to traditional way of using white flowers as Yingtai was supposed to use fengguan during her marriage. One said that Yingtai should not have the mood to "doll" herself up.

I am so thankful for their overwhelming responses especially the issue on the "mood". I have used even more elaborated flowers, scarf and a big butterfly in my previous performances. For the afternoon trial, I only used a side flower and a pair of chopsticks plus some small accessories. In a way, the hairdo has already "mellowed" down compared to the previous ones.

So what's the big deal? I am just a Yingtai weeping at the broken down "tomb" which badly in need of a repair.

ML saw this picture and she told me shortly ... "Go ahead". ^^

Anyway, I just did a trial and there may be some changes.

Perhaps make it even more "elaborate". (LOL)

Prince Kun

I smsed Kun last night. She's having her performance some time this month and I can't remember what's the exact date. So I smsed her and told her that I wanna see her pictures. She replied me telling me that she has already put them at her "home".
So I "took" one and put up here for all to view.

Kun played the role of a prince in Taiwanese Kiddy Opera - The Flower Fairy. (Storyline similar to the Disney's Sleeping Beauty, I think.)

Aunt Zhu's Liangzhu

Wow....Aunt Zhu's Liang Shanbo!!!

Crazy Amai

无戏一身轻呀， 但是中间突然杀出来的红衣花旦可是压力得很。。。呵呵~~~

Wufenghua Vs Ma Lan

Yueju Vs Huangmei

Interesting. ^^

马兰

Those who follow my blog closely would know who is Ma Lan. She is a veteran Huangmei Opera Star.



Ma Lan in Huangmei Medley... ^^

I like her Jia Baoyu and I saw it live many years back.



This is ofstage Ma Lan with a more modern Huangmei. ^^



This is onstage Ma Lan as Jia Baoyu in "Weeping for Lin Daiyu"

3 thumbs up!!!

江瑶的莲花落

I forgot her birthday this year as usual...(LOL)
She is my most most most favourite yueju actress.

Till now she is still my favourite actress...despite the "grudge" that I　held against her more than half a decade back...

Wahahaha...no wonder I was told by some friends (They don't know each other.) that they were scared of scorpions.

I am one BIG SCORPION!!! (LOL)

Anyway, I may be going to HZ next year and I will pay her a visit.

Probably I shall flood the whole of West Lake. ^^



Let see her "Yi Lv Ma" . She acted a moron bridegroom...

She is just too bright...no matter how you look at her..she still sparkles...not at all a dimwit. ^^



Zhang Lin resembles Jiangyao on stage...And some got fooled and they thought they were the same person. ^^

Take a lookie...they really have some degrees of a "lookalike". However Jiangyao is more beautiful offstage...:P

P.S.. Zhang Lin's "Yi Shi Ba" is very nice. Her sheng's gestures are very clean and clear cut. This is what I like about her. ^^ Not only that, she is a good singer.^^

Just work a little bit more...add a bit of JY's charisma...she would be near perfection. ^^

女儿香之剑归来

I like this part sung by Ni Huiying. ^^
ML specially introduced this to me many years back. ^^

春琴传

Leader gave me a poster on the above-mentioned show.
The background is a Jap Setting.
A CHN Taka friend told me that its storyline is very similar to Takarazuka Bun Chan's 殉情. She has already bought the ticket to watch the performance next month.

Leader told me that if only she has the time, she would fly to Shanghai to watch Mao's LZ and also this CQZ.



Put up a snippet of CQZ acted by Li Xiaowen.

Hahahaha...fyi...I have Li's 王乃武与小白菜。。。;P

Nanyin Tune

I think this is very very nice so I would like to share with my opera friends.^^
Thanks to a TW opera friend who took the effort to send this tune to me. ^^
In addition, she said that the best show that she viewed was Liyuan Opera this year in Taiwan. ^^

"Offline" Stage

Serious-looking right?


Serious-looking yozz?



Still look serious desu......



Give up ... Heehee... Say "Cheese".... (LOL)

Behind The Curtains - Part 3

Er.....you sure you're in the right show? Should change the show to "Meng Lijun & Huangpu Zhanghua, the Empress." (LOL)




Lost in Time......(LOL)



Hey...hey...who dim the lights????????????

Behind The Curtains - Part 2

"Where is my golden branch?"
"You're looking for the golden pig?"

(Please say the lines in hokkien. LOL)


The other pair....n the Mcee for the day.(LOL)



Aiyo....Consort WMY...relax yozz...Don't have to be so serious macho macho now. (LOL)

Behind The Curtains

Whoa!!! The Operatic "Charlie's Angels"???



What has AC done to YN?



Oooops.....what has happened?

Some of the pictures that we took behind the curtains. ^^

Aran In Phantom

I like Aran here.
Satsuki aka Qin will get crazy if she gets to see this clip.
Hey...dun forget about Koju downstairs desu sio. ^^

Charismatic Koju Tatsuki

This was Koju's DS when she was 2nd in lead in Snow Troupe.

Hear the way she sing, isn't she awesome!!!!

I wanna be like her.

Charismatic and attractive and overall a all-rounder in her performance.

She shall be one of my learning models. ^^

Fish N Me

We had our first rehearsal on "Fish".
The songs in this show are difficult. Most of them fall on the high notes and you can hear me "eeeeeee-ing" away till blue black in the face.

Poor scholar...neglected in his little hut by the pond. He recited poems and fed the FISH........ for 3 months...

The FISH fell in love with him and decided to transform herself into a beautiful maiden.

The first time they met............They fell in love....

How to huh.....especially when I am going to play this scholar.

I can only say that...the FISH is SEDUCTIVE...(LOL)

So XJ... you have to try that gesture a little harder...

At least try to strike a chord in the heart of the scholar. (LOL)

(We were laughing our heads off when we rehearsed this part...It was quite hilarious. )

Overall this show is not an easy show to learn. We must try our very best to try. ^^

Takarazuka Phantom Of The Opera

I went to Japan, Osaka @ Takarazuka Theatre, to watch Cosmos Troupe's Phantom of The Opera. I like this part very much. Wao had indeed improved a great deal especially in her feelings. I used to feel quite edgy with Wao's singing. However she showed improvements in her singing. Though Wao and Hana were not in my favourite actresses' list, I still think that they were good actresses especially Hana San. ^^

My Favourite GZX Xiaosheng - Ye Qing

This show is "Cai Yun Tian Ya". It is not officially released in the market yet.
But I hope that it will be released soon so that I can get the DVDs and add into my GZX's collections. ^^

Zeng Jinping

Wow...I took a nice picture with Zeng Jinping. She is the troupe leader of Quanzhou Liyuan Opera Troupe and she is also a Plum Flower Award winner. Plum Flower Award is the highest award for Chinese Opera artistes.

I like the excerpts showcased by the different hokkien genres. It's a pity that the excerpts were a bit short but still I think was a nice opportunity to watch the excerpts.

Wufenghua's Princess

Dedicated to our beloved WMY.

Wufenghua, a fan-style xiaosheng cum wusheng, did the role of the princess in "打金枝". I think she has done reasonably well as she seldom does dan.
I still find her to be quite manly but I still want to pat her in her back and shout bravo into her ears.

Wu promised that she would give me the vcd...Well, I don't think I would want to trouble her for it. As long as the disc is up in the market, I have my ways to get them. ^^

Back to our beloved WMY, so when will you want to try something like that?

No.2 and I have already tried crossovers in our roles. Maybe we shall do "The Romance of the Red Dream Chambers" and you can be my Xi Ren...(LOL)

Hey..don't forget that Xi Ren was in some way "romantically" linked to Jia Baoyu. I remembered when I teased WMY about it, she would turn red in the face and try to escape from me. (LOL)

I will never forget WMY's line... "宝二爷，请用茶。”

I nearly laughed my head off on stage cos WMY sounded so sweet... (LOL)

Yueju Superstar Competition (3)

Can you recognise her? She is Zhang Lin, the one who sang in the previous blog entry.
A talented actress. ^^

Yueju Superstar Competition (2)

Zhang Lin, a Yin-style xiaosheng, is from Shaoxing Yueju Troupe. She can sing pretty well and she somehow reminds me of my favourite yueju actress, Jiangyao.

3 thumb ups for Zhang Lin's singing. ^^

All she has to do is to brush up her acting and I think that she will make it big in her yueju career.

Yueju Superstar Competition (1)

I was pretty excited to get this clip from the net. The music and lyrics were still the same except the movements had been changed.
Perhaps it was meant for a competition, that's why the movements were more elaborate than the previous one that I used to showcase.

Enjoy the clip. ^^

Fun @ Backstage

We had great fun in the dressing room after Saturday Performance.

The "moral" of this clip is ...

"The mice come out to play when the cat is away." (LOL)

P.S. All opera-related clips will be showcased in this blog. ^^