Romance Of The Zither And The Flute

(Altogether 6 parts for the lst half of the show, not in full though, exclusively amai...LOL)

It has been some years before we performed this show. XJ and I were very excited over it though there were not enough rehearsals as there are 4 shows this month.

Come to think about it, what my TW friends said were true.

"Unbelievable but amazing to do 4 shows in a month as we are only an amatuer troupe."

XJ mentioned the other day that there was one we did about ten shows during the weekends and it was about about 2 months, I think.

Gutsy right? That's my leader. She is indeed a brave and gutsy woman.

As for us...we are just followers. (LOL)

Again, lack of rehearsals is indeed scary.

Perhaps due to this reason, we didn't do well enough for this show. At least I feel that we can do better.^^

Well, there's always a better tomorrow. If we have another opportunity to do this show, we shall try our utmost best to improve on it. ^^

Xi Ju - The Goddess Of Mercy

I watched a little bit of Xi Ju's Goddess Of Mercy and I realised that its version was simliar to Xiamen Troupe's.

I saw this show when XM came to Singapore a few years back. The Goddess of Mercy was acted by SYR.

XJ, did you get this vcd too? ^^

CCTV 11 AD

How nice if Starhub gets CCTV 11, I sure sign up for it. ^^

This is one channel that I always tune in when I go China. ^^

千古情怨

When I first saw its cover, the first thing was that I wanna to get it for myself.
So kind and lovely of XJ to get it for me when she was on a trip to China.

Waiting for my nasal spray to sink it at least for an hour cos I don't want it to choke me any further, I think I wanna "show off" a little about this show.



Fang Yafen acted 2 different roles in this show. One as the cousin of a famous Qing Poet. The Qing Emperor took a fancy to her when she became a tutor to princess and the emperor intended to marry her.



Another role was a Missy of a high-rank official. She married the Qing Poet whom the latter got lovesick. Both the poet's parents believed in getting him a wife so that his illness would be healed soon...



可怜卢云一片痴情哪，临终才得到丈夫的尊重和怜惜。
花样年华，香消玉殒，天犹怜之……



纳兰违心劝说梦萦做康熙之妃。


两个女人的极情， 为了心爱的人，她们都将自己推向了生命的彼岸。。。。。。
很久很久以前，造物主说：

爱，是我给你们每一人造下的；相爱，是要你们每一人自己用心去争取的！
人说：爱是爱，心是心，远着呢。。。。。。

I think women see love differently from men. In most cases, the women lose out...But why must they always be the sacrificial party...

Did men also sacrifice as much as women in the olden days comparatively? Maybe...not sure.

Pictures and parts of words extracted from 美丽越剧.

Nasal Spray

I hate this.........but have no choice.
I stopped for quite a while thinking that I have recovered.

But back to the DOC last night cos I have difficulty in breathing again.

Now I realised that I have to use it for several months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The spray never fails to choke me...that's one reason why I was so glad not to use it when I thought I have recovered.

I really tried to take care of myself...BUT....two days ago, a colleague asked me to go over and she whispered to me a few inches near my face...

Gosh, then I realised she just came back with her flu...

I was a bit pissed......cos I know I'm not that strong to withstand virus...And I only got recovered just just recently...

There...I am down again and SATURDAY's my performance!!!!

With only one miserable rehearsal for this show, I most probably miss tonight's rehearsal and TOMORROW is the day of performance!!!!!!!!!!!!

HEART ATTACK....................

The Very "ON" KH Dans

Before I embarked on the above topic, I would like to proudly show off my little HP Bear, a gift from Sweet Kaley. (LOL)

She managed to find one with this colour......and you know what...this color wasn't that easy available as the other day I only saw the blue and the .....emm...brown ones..I think.

The first TOP DAN (the tiny and blurred image from the right next to my cute bearie.) to be featured is of course our Leader......Though now she is not participating into acting that actively than before, she takes more time to train up the other dans...

She was playing on the keyboard for XJ to practice for the "Romance of the Zither and the Flute".



The 2nd "ON" DAN is our most promising and uprising dan of the year, XJ(The one in the white top and pink floral suit). She is ON like no one's business. She may be working for long hours and very late, her zest in opera is not at all reduced.

According to the latest predictions and forcasts in KH's most paparazzi blockbuster news...(LOL), she is now the most eligible dan for being our KH's TOP DAN.

So get ready for KH's most most exciting combi for this Saturday's sneak preview at Marsiling CC. Must have some practicum before becoming a full-fledged Top Dan yozz.(LOL)

The 3rd "ON" Dan is YA (next to XJ). She is powerful in the wardrobe but quite powerless on the rehearsal grounds. (LOL) However she is quite hardworking and blah blah blah blah blah blah blab good books and blah blah blah blah at risk blah blah...may be replaced fullstop blah blah blah... blah blah blah.
(Don't ask me what blah blah blah some words are beyond descriptions for her...LOL)



After 6 years of "absence", YN is BACK with determination and zeal. Though just gotten married, her interest in opera is getting to a greater heights.

You should see how XZ teach her last Saturday and how YN closely followed. She has already learned her songs and lyrics...Wow... this is something that I am not that "advanced". A "spongy" dan indeed. (LOL)

YA has slimmed down quite a fair bi...See how great her determination is...YN's too freakily skinny....MUST EAT MORE!!!MORE MORE MORE!!!

Er...what happen to the SHENGS?

One has her workstation in KH, one always falling sick, one busily designing, shooting, drinking, singing, printing and working, one only appears during one weekend, too busy working but can update via blogging and one MIA, long time no see till fat or thin, tall or short or how she looks now no existing KHers know. (LOL)

Quite "OFF" desu sio...(LOL)

While waiting ......

While waiting for my call to go thru to report in SICK.... I decided not to waste time staring at the ceiling...

I wanna to show you this...(LOL)

Last Friday, K and XJ were so nice to come over for a little red wine to sweep off my bad mood. ML waited and waited till she was about to fall asleep.

Oooopss....now I know...not only a hungry woman is an angry woman, a sleepy one is also an agitated one. (LOL)

I showed my colleagues my bear and my favourite cocktail...... She said that I looked like an underaged gal trying to drink. (LOL)

Ooopss. She's made up a dozen who told me that I look YOUNG.



But I think I look SLEEPY too...but excited....(LOL)

I still think my bear looks much better than me...(LOL) ^^

XJ, next time bring that sheepishly-looking monkey of yours. Bobo wanna to "drink" him dry... (LOL)

Sick Again!!!

My headache is killing me and I felt feverish this afternoon.
Went to the doc just now, seems like I'm getting a flu...

NO, NO PLEASE...I don't want to go through another stage of agony!!!

Moreover I'm having a performance this Saturday and the role is considered quite heavy as I need to move and skip and hop around which surely taxing off alot of my energy......

Most probably I'll miss my rehearsal tomorrow......

We only had one rehearsal last Saturday for this show......

AC can't make it during weekdays as he is working...

I hope everything turns out well on Saturday night.

Pitiful SCF

A TW friend showed me this link and I think SCF is such a poor thing. Not only she has to take up the acting burden of being the TOP of MHY Troupe but also has to deal with family politics.

She has suffered from many years of depression. From what I have heard, it seems that the reporters wanted to write about the matter and instead of letting the reporters publicise first, SCF brought herself forward to clarify.

This kind of betrayal is unbearable to any woman. It must be very hard on SCF all these years.

Please don't disturb SCF anymore. She has gone through so much pain already.

Red Wine Party

K wanna me to blog about it. (LOL)

K wanna another red wine party. This time round, she is going to bring red wine.

Do give suggestions on which date to fix on ... ^^

Dance Class

I went to Dance Class at KH yesterday. Leader wasn't in town and the door was locked when I reached KH. I was early, in fact too early and I had to wait for TOP to arrive so that she could open the door.

I have missed 2 sessions so I expected to catch up a bit more.

Teacher taught us a type of "Qi Gong" known as "Zi Fa Gong". You have to imagine that a ball of energy accumulated at your finger tips and then this ball of energy would travel all over your body. Any parts of your body aches, you just think about it and somehow the ball of energy will gather and circulate in your body.

TOP didn't understand the procedure and she didn't manage to get it. YA and I were quite successful but for a first timer experiencing such, it was rather creepy because it was like some unseen force pulling you.

After that, we started our normal routine except that Teacher added in a new item - spilting...YA told me that this item was supposed to cater for XJ who was absent yesterday.

Guess XJ can't miss the next session...I was told that this particular exercise was "designed" for the FISH. (LOL)

Anyway, I'm no fish so there isn't a need for me to spilt though Teacher said that I was doing quite okie compared to the rest of the actresses. ^^

唱活戏

Teacher ZHN asked me to sing a piece of GZX. I asked for lyrics. I think he was shocked and I was even more stunned to just sing out of the blue.

I told him that I couldn't sing without script. (LOL)

Then XJ "arrowed" YN and I seconded. YN was born in GZX circle and she used to help in her mother's puppetry troupe.

YN can sing straight without any scripts given.

But Teacher ZHN disappeared halfway and I did not know where did he go to.

I think YN must have heaved a sigh of relief.

Well, YN, I don't think you can get away so easily......(LOL)

Wawasheng~~~

Someone msned me and asked me why I wanna quit being a wawasheng.

This shows that my blog is "well-received". (LOL)

The reason is simple... I am too tall for a wawasheng.

I will make my "master" look so small and frail and myself a monster.

TOP remarked that I should go and "shorten" my height for wawasheng after our "Lv Dongbin Vs Bai Mudan".

I replied that she should eat fatter to be seen on stage and being fatter is easier than to get shorter. (LOL)

Sometimes I really don't understand......

I don't really understand my mother......

I told her that K's TW friends are here in town and was going for a gathering last night. I wouldn't be home till quite late and I remembered telling her that I couldn't give her the time as I was not sure how long the gathering would end.

I left the gathering at 1plus which was considered early as I only reached there at around 11. Some of us couldn't stay long too as we had something on the next morning.

When I went home, I saw my mum sitting on her bed and she started to nag at me. I really don't understand why was she so picky. It isn't that I didn't inform her and she raved on and on and my dad had to ask her to quieten down.

My mum exclaimed that I was being too much and inside me I thought of my mum being too much and demanding!

I think...... I really don't understand my parents and neither do they understand me as well.

To be frank, I was so so so happy during the gathering. I realise that I have missed so much fun! I didn't drink and I just sang and I have lost touch in singing KTV songs other than my opera.

So many songs that I have not heard of and so many songs that I heard of but yet don't know how to sing. I don't want to stick to just that few songs that I know of and those songs I have sung a decade ago.

YN asked me whether I knew how to sing SHE's Superstars...I heard of it but I don't know how to sing.

On my way home, I told ML that I must go and get some karaoke discs and start to learn to sing some songs. I think I have spent too much time singing my operas. (LOL)

Even my dad is so much updated than I. My mum can't sing but she is a CHAMPION NAGGER.

My dad sings well and I'm sort of glad that I inherited his singing talent. If not I will be drawing the stage curtains instead of standing on the centre of the stage as an actress.

K knows so much...and wow she can really sings!

I can tell K enjoys herself tremendously. ^^

KH N KTV

I went to KH around 5pm so that I would get a car park lot available. Car park lots became scarce during dinner time. I didn't want to spend time waiting in the car for someone to drive his vehicle out.

When I reached KH, YN and XJ were practising "The Rain Encounter at the Pavilion". Leader was guiding them along especially YN as she was taking up the role of Yulan for the first time.

Leader taught YN quite thoroughly and she was patient and detailed in her teaching. At least she doesn't teach me to this extent. Perhaps I am a sheng and Leader knows more about dan movements.

YN is a fast learner and she has finished her scene 1.

After our final performance for this season, KH is going to embark on rehearsing more opera titles. It was written on the chalkboard and the shows that we may rehearse are "The 5 daughters", "The Emperor and Village Girl", "The Tragedy of Sword and Zither", "The Rain Encounter At the Pavilion", "The Chest Marriage", "Sending Off Jinniang" and still some more which I couldn't recall. (LOL)

We had rehearsal for “Three Happy Families" at night and after rehearsing, we headed straight to KTV with our TW friends.

YN was invited and she went along. We really enjoyed ourselves at the KTV lounge.

Before leaving at 1plus, K and YN duet with a hokkien song titled "爱人跟人走“。 K was so high and sang so dynamically. Too bad I didn't bring along my camera, if not I will post K and her Future up here. (LOL)

K, you sounded so so so ....(LOL)

Oops...Blogger is now very sleepy and can you imagine I just dozed off with the laptop on my lap.

Shall stop here, I may drop my laptop if I doze off again so I better keep it now. ^^

Kun Opera

I think this dan looks pretty though she may be a little plump.

I like her eyes. She has pretty eyes. ^^

Another Kiddy Opera

This genre is Yu Opera - 豫剧

This little girl is only 6 years old but she is so lively in her performance.

ML said that she looked creepy mainly because her head looked too big for her little body and she was 'toothless"...About time to drop her milk teeth..(LOL)

Teochew Kiddy Opera

Out of curosity and mainly because I saw a familiar name... (LOL)

They called themselves little plum flowers and this show - Sue The Husband was directed by DIRECTOR WU.

Cheer Up Feast

Initially planned to have a gathering with K and her TW friend who just came a few days ago. However it was postponed to a later date as K's TW friend couldn't make it today.

Last night I was in such a foul mood and K suggested not to brood too much over it. K is so nice because she said that she'll be coming over to my house for a drink as well as to watch some GZX opera to cheer me up. ^^ K promised that she would bring tibits...I told her I wanna potato chips...^^

XJ will also be coming over after her event. She will be bringing red wine and ML is going to buy me cocktail.

I told XJ of the CN's CNY opera variety featuring He Saifei and Zhao Zhigang. I told XJ that their costumes and hairdos are so trendy and nice.

AC told me earlier when he spotted them in cable TV during CNY.

Tonight we gonna watch TMY's Imperial Bridge. Thanks to my TW friend who sent me the DVD. I enjoy SUPER CLEAR quality...^^

Obtuse

Do you know what's the meaning of "obtuse'?

I heard someone use this word...

Well, not referring to mathematical concept as in "obtuse angle"...

To make it simpler... to say that it's an obtuse idea...

means....blind...dim...or put it this way...

Lacking quickness of perception or intellect.

Characterized by a lack of intelligence or sensitivity: an obtuse remark.

Yueju Interviews

I watched interviews on Qian Huili and Shang Yangping. The documentaries were about their passion and success in their Yueju.

Both have something in common... In their room, they have many video tapes and scripts. They review the tapes regularly.

Qian switched on the tape and sang together with her teacher, Xu Yulan whereas Shang was eating her bread and watching the tape at the same time and doing some movements.

I do something like that too. I don't really sing along but I would try out the movements if I find any captivating ones. (LOL)

Sometimes I may be seen as "lazy" in my troupe because you hardly see me practising my movements or walking round the room in my high boots.

Well, sometimes people tend to believe in what they preview. Similarly, you don't have to eat medicine in front of many people to show that you are sick. (LOL)

I think everyone learns differently. I just don't have the habit to walk round the room in high boots for 3 hours nor do I sing continuously for 3 hours.

I think I am more of a visual person. I learn best when I see. ;P

Perhaps that's why I need to get opera discs to aid me to improve. ^^

Unhappy!!!

Why is that my car always has to park outside the gate and my brother's so privileged to park inside? Just because his car is a SPORTS CAR and mine is just a normal Toyota Vivio......In addition, I PAY carpark fee every month to my mum...can you believe it...carpark fee at my own house's frontyard. Well, no one believes it, right?

Just now I nagged abit and Dad rebuked me,"你的车，我倍得起！！！"@_@

心里OS着：有这样的宝贝儿子，您太辛苦了~~~~

My parents dote on him and let him have his absurb ways at times. Each time he polishes his stupid car, he will drive it so near to the doorway and it's stressful just to pass through it.

Once dad had to remind me to walk carefully so as not to leave any beautiful marks on it.

I pitied Kash because his leash became shorter and he had lesser space to move.

No wonder Kash took revenge by urinating at Stuckup's wheels. (LOL)

My parents are traditional. They believe boys are "valuable" than girls. They believe boys carry the family line and are dependable for old age. Well, time has changed, wives are now considered more important than parents. (LOL)

When my brothers on their aircon, they are fine and when I on it, which I rarely on, my mum will be the first to scold me.

If so, why don't get more money from them instead of draining me out of my CPF for the house?

Someone suggested that I should get married asap. I think is a dumb idea. I may fall into another ditch if I don't marry well. (LOL)

This whole stupid incident really dims my mood and pains my heart......
I have nothing more to say.

Musical Theatre Of The Pear Orchard II

Here you can see their movements resemble puppets. When I first saw it, the first thing that came to my mind was...."puppets".

Look at their hand movements, they are very precise and particular in their hand movements.

It is a very refined art. It's a pity that not many people know how to appreciate such arts nowadays.

Xie Qunying's Jade Pin - The Return

I love this actress. Her name is Xie Qunying. She is a Jin-style huadan. I like her way of singing in this show. ^^

I WANT this show!!! ^^

飞去的玉蜻蜓 （转贴）

飞去的玉蜻蜓


说老实话，第一次见到王君安的时候，我已基本错过了迷上一个越剧小生的少年时光。而此时的王君安，已在大洋彼岸，呆了将近十年。

记得当时看的是多年以前的音像资料，那时扮演梁玉书的王君安才十七八岁。那时我很少有坐下来平心静气地看茅威涛以外的其他小生演戏的耐心，但奇怪的是，我居然没有对这个孩子气的梁玉书产生什么成见。相反的，我隐约开始疑惑，一直在讲爱情童话的越剧需要的到底是一个饱受磨折的真实文人，还是一个粉妆玉琢的少年公子。

以后就有意无意地在网上搜集她留下来的一些段子，包括《玉蜻蜓》，包括《叹钟点》，并在不知不觉间喜欢上了她的声音。一直便听人说，这是一把最接近老尹的声音。

近年来很少听见这样不让人浮躁的声音了，尤其是在《叹钟点》里。这种声音似春风拂面，又似海浪轻轻地漫过来，漫过你的皮肤，让你隐约觉得自己如盐粒一般在海水里慢慢融化。

平心而论，这种声音并不适合旧上海的浪荡子金育青，你无法想象这样温文的声音在声色场中呼五和六是怎样的光景。可这一切在听这段折子戏时，其实都不重要了，他的懊悔，他的难过，用这样多情的声音，百转千回，娓娓道来，便是具有这样的蛊惑力，让人忍不住的心动，忍不住地想去安慰他；这归家的浪子，无论他犯了什么样的错，我们都可以包容，我们都可以原谅。

难过的时候，可以听一听这个声音。在这个声音里，我们是可以躲藏的。我们可以什么都不想，甚至一厢情愿地相信，这个世界还是很温暖，很平安的。


迄今为止，我还是不觉得王君安的表演在那么多的尹派传人中是最好的，但我已然承认了她最接近老尹，并且她很可爱。她没有像茅那样去驾驭整个舞台,把观众的目光聚焦在自己身上的霸气，但她有自己的说服力，她让观众情不自禁地去疼爱她，喜欢她。如果说茅在舞台上的形象多是桀骜不逊的恃才文人，王则是个未经人世的少年公子。

茅身上有着很浓的书卷气，扮相又是毫无争议的俊美。她所扮演的人未必出身豪门，但总是很有才华，他因为他那超凡的才华而居高临下。因此即使是在《西厢记》中，白衣的他去追求几乎是在云端中的相国千金莺莺，他对侍女红娘的态度也流露出“你理所当然应该帮助我”的下意识。

相比起来，王君安要显得单纯的多。梁玉书刚出场时是个一直呆在书斋里没出过门的小书生，他几乎是像杜丽娘一般的因为满目春景而眼花缭乱，以致他一见到谢云霞，便立即坠入情网。在拜托刘兄帮他求亲之后，他用扇子遮着脸，含羞地跑下场去，终因放心不下，再喊两声：“一切拜托，一切拜托！”真的是出于天然的少年忸怩情态，让人忍俊不禁。有人说，莺莺爱上张生的原因是张生是她见到的第一个男人，其实，对梁玉书来讲，爱上谢云霞，这也是一个很大的原因。相比起来，谢云霞的经历就要复杂的多，她显然不是一个绣楼中只懂得绣花的弱女子，父死母亡，逃避追兵，投江，寄居刘家，她的感情受到过严重的伤害。梁玉书求亲受挫，他就像杜丽娘那样，恹恹地生起相思病来了。这对一个成年男子来讲，固是一件很不可思议的事，但放在这纯情的少年身上，却让人在会心一笑的同时，心中轻轻一动。当他终于娶到谢云霞的时候，他真是全心全意的呵护着她，生怕她受到了一点点委屈。他贴着谢云霞的心让她渐渐感觉到了他的温暖。

因此就某种程度上来讲，其实王君安比茅更像童话中的白马。毕竟是为白马，多半是出自于少女的想像，她们也许会停下来想一想为那个背负了太多重担的男子一直牺牲下去是不是值得，尽管他让你神迷；但很少有人能拒绝一个清俊多才的相国公子天真地恋慕着你，捧你在手心，无微不至的呵护你。

承认童话毕竟是童话是一件有点让人不忍心的事，但人总是要长大的，没有人能闭着眼睛不承认现实。就像茅的愈行愈远，就像从海外回闽匆匆一现的王君安身上，知性得已不太找得到越剧女小生的气息。

想起看早期的《玉蜻蜓·前游庵》时，摇着扇子的申贵升眨着眼睛笑嘻嘻地指着一池鲤鱼对王志贞说：“却原来你一朝还俗要开荤”，又羞又恼的王志贞红着脸将拂尘一扫，故作高深地说一句：“十方檀越有善行，放生积德是修心。”眼见着，就是一对小儿女在道是无情却有情的打打闹闹。也许这更接近于王君安的本色，一个任性而淘气的少年。

他未必负责任，一切出于天性。她可以因为孺慕之情，留在老尹身边，拒绝许许多多的诱惑；也会因为被漠然伤了心，一怒之下抛下一切，去得无影无踪。没有人能责怪她什么，每个人都有选择自己要走的路的权力。就像申贵升，他与王志贞的风月情事对他的原配张雅芸来讲，的确不公平，但要他一辈子困守一段无爱的婚姻，也是不公平的。

申贵升最终怅然西归。不管他死后的幽魂，会不会如他所说的，在那桃林之中生死相伴，王志贞到底还是失去了一段她这一辈子再也不会遇见的最珍贵的感情。

王君安已在美国完成了她的本科学业，想来是不会再回来的了。纵使她回来了，也不太可能再当越剧女小生，那一段十八岁的青春年华，已然是挽不住的一去不复返。


《玉蜻蜓》给我们讲了一个有关传承的故事，生死有命，香烟不断，从申贵升，直至徐元宰。但老尹死去的时候，上海龙华人山人海，王君安依然没能回来。

一个赶来参加追悼会的老太太，拉着正在痛悼恩师的茅的手，激动万分地大声说：“我最喜欢看你的戏了！”

并不想责怪谁，只是在一瞬间觉得啼笑皆非。


还是很喜欢王君安的声音，喜欢在她的声音里荡漾，渐渐被淹没的感觉。但我知道自己已然错过了那个可以为茅风魔的年代。

有人说，你不可能两次踏进同一条河流，换言之，你不可能在你的身边，两次遇见一只同样的蜻蜓。

飞去的玉蜻蜓，不会再回来。

Written by a China fan. I think she writes beautifully...看了特别感慨~~~

“王君安已在美国完成了她的本科学业，想来是不会再回来的了。纵使她回来了，也不太可能再当越剧女小生，那一段十八岁的青春年华，已然是挽不住的一去不复返。“

Treasure your every moments on stage. ^^ Time and tide wait for no man.

Yueju Butterfly Lovers

I saw this on Youtube and out of curosity, clicked to watch it. The moment Yingtai came out, I realised who she was.

I have this show and I have not watched it yet...

Zhao Haiying is so sweet... too sweet to be Yingtai...(LOL)

The latest butterfly lovers that I had was "梁祝情恨”。。。 But its story has a little twist to it. ^^

Yingtai wanted to elope with Sanbo. Sanbo was waiting for Yingtai's arrival in a small hut. They were to get married that night. Just then, a messenger told Sanbo that Yingtai was captured by her dad and was forced into the sedan chair on the way to Ma's Mansion. Sanbo ran out of his hut in the cold winter night and thus frozen to death.

I remember watching 盖鸣辉's Butterfly Lovers....Most of the time, I couldn't understand the language and my vcds do not have subtitles but ML was there to explain to me...

I think...Gai looks nicer as a sheng than a dan. Her Yingtai in the later scenes...er...er....er.................................

There's a BIG twist to this story...(LOL)

Sanbo hated Yingtai for not telling him the truth and even Yingtai came to visit him, he refused to utter a word. (LOL)

Yueju Young Star (1)

真假驸马 - 可怜天下父母心

李路彦饰演董文伯

Put this clip up is because I know the role more than the actress. (LOL)

Musical Theatre Of The Pear Orchard

Pear Orchard or better known as "Liyuan" originated from the song-and-dance music of the "Pear Orchard Studio" which flourished during the Tang Dynasty. It was already considered a deeply antique tradition of Qingyue of which the emperor Xuanzhong has been passionately fond of.

In the 1970s, Piet ven der Loon discovered an edition of southern musical drama that had been printed during the Jiajing era and entitled "Reprint Edition of Mixed Theatre Genres or Chaozhou and Quanzhou.

This was the script of the Liyuan drama "Chen San Wuniang" that had survived into the present.

(Extracted from Romance of Lychee Mirror)

(Lots of info but too lazy to type, so just fished out a few segments. ^^)

What you see was the documentary...

I saw a bit of the actual scenes... I found that the way they moved reminded me of puppets... at certain points, the actors would jerk. The way Han Tang Yuefu presented their nanyin is quite different from China's Nanyin.

Look at their madeup and costumes...Classic desu sio.

Are the two genres in a way related?

(If I use this show to showcase during the Red Wine Party, guess the rest will get "drunk" before the wine actually takes effect. Not many would know how to appreciate. The Nanyin actors are so precise in their movements. I think I will just watch it alone. ^^)

Alternative Endings for Hana Kimi

Extracted from Jiro's Fanclub, Singapore Branch

Today is Hana's Kimi's last episode at U Channel. Though I have bought the DVDs but I have not watched Ep. 13 to 15.

Perhaps, I am a bit disappointed to know that Jiro's pairing off with the american girl. Their combi is rather odd, I prefer Jiro's first girlfriend though it is not possible to match Ella with Jiro...no matter how much I like their combi...(LOL)

Oooops......Zun Sao.........don't you think they are such a lovely match..Chun & Ella. (LOL)

Look at the different alternate endings for Hana Kimi, which one do you prefer? ^^

Face Off AC

OMG!!!!!!!!! I laughed and laughed!!!!!!!!!

What can I say?

I can only say...Steady Poon Pi Pi AC!!! (LOL)

Our Next Performance

Our next performance is at the end of this month. ^^

My TW friends told me that they found us "不可思议" because we actually did 4 different shows in a month and 3 out of 4 are full-length shows.

Amazing...

Wow...come to think about it...

I think we are just PLAIN DARING!!! (LOL)

Crew At Work

If not not them, our performance would not be a success. ^^



Our backstage heroines marking and dealing with the props. ^^



Manning the exhibition gallery isn't an easy job.



Actor cum Announcer



Mic controller



The Chief Commander in charge assigning out the tasks.



Our supportive audience ^^

Romance Of The Zither & The Flute

It has been about three years since we did this show again last night. Not much of rehearsals and of course we had some hiccups here and there.

The boatman in the lst scene forgot her movements and just went backstage and left me alone on stage. So had no choice but to "swim" back to "shore". (LOL)



See AC's dangling two-piece at the back of his hat? He made it himself. So clever of him. ^^



SQ, President of BL CC's Chinese Orchestra Troupe, a very nice man. He treated us to supper after our performance. Yummy yummy. ^^



Our scene 6, one of our favourite scenes. (LOL) Too bad XJ couldn't focus much. She was too distracted by her costume.



Notice something, K... (LOL)
We have facial expressions desu sio... (LOL)



You struck lottery, XJ? Give me half, okie..^^



Happy coconuts on stage because it's the finale. ^^



That's us eating supper after our show back at KH. Hungry, tired but happy coconuts. (LOL)

Spin A Tale of The Street Peddler Part Two

The Street Peddler (Part 2) (Spin a tale)

After so many days , finally rain goes away and sunshine arrives.

Li Liansheng's mood is getting lighter. It has been quite tiring for Li Liansheng as he has been working from morn to night selling sundry goods.

Finally Li meets someone who thinks greatly and is appreciative of him. She is the witty maid, Lanxiang.

Missy Bai spents too much time dolling herself up and has the worst judgement on colours. (Blue can't go well with pink....LOL)

Ms Bai isn't a suitable match for Li Liansheng. All Ms Bai cares is to make herself look young and pretty. (First of all, get some colour sense.....)

Lanxiang has been thinking of Li day and night. Peddling sundry goods is a decent job as Lanxiang would get to see the Peddler as often as she needs to.

Both sang to each other, melodious and clear and their songs harmonise perfectly. (Appreciative people not only take note of facial expressions but also good singing skills...LOL)

How matching...

So hereby declare,

Li Liansheng and Lanxiang as

KH's next SHENG and the DAN. (LOL)

They now have a common goal and they shall persevere.

Have a bright future on stage. ^^

Huang Mei Opera - Li Qingzhao

XJ, this is the one that I wanna show you.

You know what I meant.. (LOL)

TW Slang In Opera

K is our topmost "slanger" when she speaks or sings her operatic lines. Usually the audience will get misled by her thinking that she is a Taiwanese GZX actress.

That was what happened on last Saturday's performance. An audience came up to her and ask for her name. (LOL)

Told you K, that night really relied on you desu shio. (LOL)

XJ, K and I played important roles in "San Feng". As usual, K will be slanging alway as per normal.

Now I start to slang with her, hahahahahaha.... I even told her that as the TOP IMPERIAL SCHOLAR, I know her hometown dialect. (家乡话）

XJ started to slang together in that particular scene but our Third Scholar couldn't hold her laughter and she blurted out giggling...

A dan is a dan lor...somemore a giggling dan. (LOL)

Takarazuka Ernest in Love(Flower) -- Mr. Bunbury

I saw this clip at Youtube and I want to talk about this.

I have introduced this show in one of my earlier entries. I saw this show at ML's hse together with Qin and XM.

It was a very fun show and this show makes me like Tomu Ranju San more. (The one in the darker suit)

I used to find Tomu Ranju a bit dull initially but via this show she has shown so much improvements and beginning to show signs of a future TOP.

I feel glad for her. ^^

This is a very nice show and if you are fans of either Juri San (the one in the lighter suit) or Tomu Ranju San...this DVD is worth buying.

Just Some Thoughts

Among the Khers, Only AC and I are considered as the MegaCraze for different genres of Chinese Opera.

AC is informative and I am "resourceful" as in getting resources...(LOL)

Many of the KHers prefer GZX more and they watch them more than other genres.

Quite a few just can't be bothered and some are just ABSOLUTELY ZERO.

Hence, there is a vast difference in thinking and attitudes among us.

Just by sticking to one genre isn't going to help you to upgrade further as an actor. This is just my personal opinion.

Even the lst grade actresses watch genres of other operas too.

I came across a cantonese opera artiste and she disclosed that she likes Yueju alot. My Yueju friends appreciate the cantonese operas saying that the lyrics are so refined and beautiful.

My opera friends who watched Takarazuka commented that the actresses are so professional and the stage presences are so dominant.

My TW friends who are amatuers like us like Yueju alot and most of them watch Yueju to upgrade themselves.

But what happen to the Khers?

Too much work, no time, too many rehearsals, too tired...uninterested.

Perhaps......

Now my leader realises the importance of getting opera discs but...somehow or rather for some purposes.

Just like getting those shows that we perform.

One day, I accidently saw a Wufenghua's Liangzhu excerpts vcd in the office. It wasn't placed in the library and I knew it was the new title. I dont have good memory for lines but for discs...slightly better...(Ironic luffs...)

Leader didn't allow me to "borrow" the newly bought discs as she explained that the discs had to be recorded before releasing them into the library.

BUT TOP has the privilege to watch because she was then acting Liang Shanbo and if I didn't guess wrongly, she even shared the disc and discuss what movements to do with her pageboy.

It isn't wrong...but to me I feel kind of hurt.

It is okie that I am not being placed under "priority". I am used to it already.

But I did a very bad thing...(LOL)

I walked to the table...pointed at the disc , gave a shrug and commented...

I have this disc long time ago. (It's the TRUTH) (LOL)

(Very bad and cocky right?)

I'm just a human with imperfections... (LOL)

Fan-style Xu Min

I first saw Xu Min in Chen Xiaohong's "The Jade Dragonfly" excerpt.

XJ commented that though Xu Min's movements not bad, Xu Min isn't pretty enough. She further added that there's a lack of stage presence for her.

Look at the "Young Emperor" excerpt. I see Xu Min as kind of 霸气十足。。I think she suits this kind of role. ^^

Yin-style is usually very scholarly whereas Fan-style is rather dynamic.

Junan Wang's Debut CD (Limited Edition)

但凡见过王君安、认识王君安的人，大都不约而同会被她身上所散发出来的那种朴素安静、含蓄内敛，温文尔雅的气质所深深吸引，有人说，这才是身为尹门弟子所应有的特质。而今天看到她的这套CD，也自然地延续了这种风格。在CD的包装和图文设计上，设计师选择了经典的黑白色为基调，色彩素雅清新，构图简约大方，且材质精良，做工考究，真可谓碟如其人矣。

『尹韵风流』是王君安从艺以来出版的首张个人专辑，整张CD从策划到制作，她都亲历亲为参与到每一个环节，力求尽善尽美。在曲目的选择上，经过精心挑选的《沙漠王子》、《何文秀》、《浪荡子》、《红楼梦》、《盘妻索妻》、《玉蜻蜓》等九段尹派经典唱段，在充分体现尹派唱腔的特色的同时，也把王君安自身嗓音浑厚明亮，唱腔委婉圆润的特点发挥到了极致。在音乐配器方面，更是请来著名作曲家连波老师监制，并由上海金鹰爱乐乐团为其伴奏。整张CD的音乐听来气势磅礴，乐章华彩绚丽。这套CD共有两碟，一碟为唱段精选，一碟为伴奏精选。应该说，喜欢尹派的票友们有福了！同时，CD内还特别附带了一本制作精美的纪念册子，收录了她这一路走来的心路旅程、成长印迹，这不仅是一次回忆，同时也是一次新的开始。

与众不同的还有，CD内的所有文字内容都是中英文双语对照的。“让外国人也能认识越剧，听得懂越剧，欣赏越剧”，这也许该算是王君安在新年里的一个美好而真实的愿望吧。她微笑地说：“完成这张专辑，不仅是为了缅怀我的老师尹桂芳先生，也是为了回报多年来不离不弃的众多尹派戏迷，同时更是我献给越剧百年华诞和芳华建团六十周年的一份礼物。”



I WANT this CD!!!!!!! ^^ (Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalala)

Another Yin-style Xiaosheng - Chen Liyu

Chen Liyu may not be that familiar to you. However she is one of the recipients of the Yueju Stars Challenge last year. (越女争锋金奖得者）

Some Yueju fans deemed her prettier than Wang Jun'an.

To me, I feel that both are pretty. Both belong to the same troupe.

The most important thing is that Chen Liyu sings well too. ^^

Wang Junan Again

That's Junan. ^^ ("Current" Jun'an)



A younger Junan in the 90s.

Wang Jun An - A Yin-style Xiaosheng

OMG, She is so PRETTY!!!

She is Wang Jun An, a Yin-style Top Xiaosheng of Fanghua Yueju Troupe.

She sings very well.

She has gone to USA for quite a few years and now she's back.

She is currently staying in Shanghai and recently had her CD album launched.

Some more pictures of her offstage.





Some pictures of her onstage.







How I wish I can be as pretty as her. ^^




Auntie Zhu and Wang Jun An. ^^

A Video Clip By ZZ Troupe

Found it among my mountain of discs......

I didn't realise that I have this show. Bought 2 years back when I was in Zhangzhou. ^^

Do you recognise the actors? ^^

Titoudou

XJ got work so can't go.

K wishes to go and would love to go but she is loaded with work after 2 days of leave. So can't go.

ZUN SAO has a date with "XIAO ZUN ZUN" and she thought that tonight's Titoudao isn't ON...SO not going.

Me......BAD MOOD......STAY CLEAR... because I will BITE and SNARE!!!

New Combi

TOP Vs XJ

New combi in this Dragon Lady Excerpt.

Not too bad though, can match. ^^

The Street Peddler Vs the Kitchen Maid

"The Street Peddler" is a popular and well-known excerpt and don't get surprise to hear the audience sing along with you.

My colleague's parents bought the tickets specially just to watch this excerpt.

The mainland Chinese also like this show. They hummed along with the actresses on stage.

Overall it is a fun show and not only it is well-liked by the audience, many of our KHers like this show too.

YN acted the role of Lanxiang, a witty and cheerful maid aka kitchen maid. (LOL)

I nicknamed her the kitchen maid because of her hair that made her look like one. Anyway you can't blame me because I was given only two miserable buns to do her hair.

YN, if u want to look like a maid with higher status, please don't give me that two miserable buns...With that, I can't do miracles...(LOL)

Look at K's hair...wow....ML took pains to comb it...

K， told you right, ML's a very conscientious hair comber...(LOL)

YN has improved compared to her Jade previously. K said that she sings with "yun" which I agree. In addition, YN took up this role in such a short time and with this results is not bad indeed. XJ and Leader also spent their time to handhold her. YN is one lucky coconut indeed. ^^

K, you have more than just facial expressions...(LOL) At least you can sing.^^

The Vainpots Of KH

Er...K...the mirror's going to crack. Even the stars would dim if they were near you. ^^



"I want to be brighter than the MOON!" K furiously and diligently brushing her cheeks.



The top 3 participants to compete for the title of "Vainest Pot of KH".



The winner emerged!

"I must thank my parents, my siblings, my friends for their support and guidance. Last but not least, I must thank my hairpieces, hairpins, front head wig, back head wig, ear rings, my TW eyelashes, my brown lipliner, my 140 and 130 base foundation, my stringed balls of furs, my guding, my red nail polish.........etc...etc..
If not for you, I wouldn't become the vainest pot of KH!" and the list goes on. (LOL)

Better stop here if not blogger would malfunction...(LOL)

Steamboat Gala

We had a steamboat gathering during CNY. Finally gotten the pictures and wanna put some up to share with all especially the KHers.



Start off with AC. He's the "watcher" of the beverages. (LOL)



KH's Top Chef frying yummy yummy food for us.



My mouth starts to water...making me so hungry. I tasted it the other day...Delicious yozz. ^^



Long time no see, WMY. The last time I saw her was at GCB sitting at the B row but she didn't even know I existed.

Once she was invited to my house for a drink but seemed to be busy with her schoolwork. Fine, valid reason. I don't want to get blamed if she can't finish her work.

Too bad, we enjoyed ourselves very much that night. We are planning to have another red wine party just that after somebodies initially refused our invitation, we are so apprehensive to extend another invitation. Who knows, we may get rejected again.
(LOL)

Friends should keep in touch often. Don't tell me that friends only "exist" within KH's four walls. Some friends are so nice and they bottled their hurt inside them. For me, I am not that "nice" comparable. I am BLUNT!

I don't like to see my friends who extended the invitation the previous time got so disappointed and hurt. SO this time, I am going to extend my invitation. If failed, I don't think I would get as hurt as the rest but that doesn't mean that I being unfeeling. But at least, I will not bottle up my feeling and I will just trash it out. (LOL)



AC's practising his yoga...(LOL)



Making me real hungry...all these food!!!



All the happy coconuts waiting to have their steamboat dinner!



Leader gave a speech and she was in a good mood that night. We watched TW YTC but the disc quality sucked.



K's waiting for her wine buddies to come and YN...aiyo...eat some more...EAT SOME MORE!!!



The most exciting moment for K and Uncle Ronald. (LOL)

The moral of this "Steamboat Gala" is participate in KH's functions and be seen and heard. I believe Leader would be very very happy and this word I must type in chinese because it would describe how she feel closely. The word is "欣慰”. It is also part of teambuilding and bond strengthening.

BBQ aka Zun Sao, come back often. Bring Jane along desu sio. ^^

Sleep

It's Hols and yet I didn't sleep well.

My nose .... I didn't use the nasal spray for quite a few days due to the recent rehearsals. It isn't comfy to use the nasal spray and I was worried that the liquid might choke me if I were to use it. That's why I avoided using it during my performances.

I forgot to use it yesterday. Guess I must use the spray today.

Sighz...I am not fully recovered as yet...

This is getting frustrating!!!

Some Other Pictures

Just to showcase some of ML's very nice pictures that she took at GCB.
Please credit the photographer if the pictures are taken for personal use.

I don't want to get reprimanded by ML as she takes her pictures seriously.

He is Minghao, son of Lay Chun. He can sing quite well. He was one of the better singers compared to the rest in WS GZX Troupe.



She is Lay Jin, the main dan in the WS GZX Troupe. But I heard that she was a VIP actress invited to strengthen the troupe's standard. She sings well and is the best dan among the rest. The other dans really need to improve in their singing.

GZX...singing is still the ultimate vital keypoint.

Listening to GZX

I lacked the motivation and zest today to do some serious work. What I did for the whole day was walking to and fro, up and down and the whole day I was restless and tired.

Probably this is the after effect of a 2-day performances in a row.

I was awakened by an annoying call from a bank. She asked for my time and I told her that I was sleeping. She said she would call me back in the afternoon. However she didn't call me, much to my delight. ^^

Met YN online. She seldom comes online, only shows herself during the hols randomly. Wow...someone is full of ambitions and aspirations to improve herself further.

Go and see her blog cos she FINALLY updated after collecting weeks of cobwebs.

Finally set myself to work and listened to SHJ's gzx CD, a token from a TW friend.

I listened for a few times...SHJ sings well.

And I am good at multi-tasking...working and listening to CD at the same time plus blogging......(LOL)

真生假旦

小生　本身要好看　才能舞台好看　
小旦可以用裝飾或貼片之類的來裝扮
所以說真生假旦


Quoted from my TW friend cum opera actress.

So I cheekily asked her which one I belong to.

She replied;

真生　真旦

So flattered... (LOL)

I think she is just trying to be nice. ^^

But she is indeed a very nice person naturally.

When she saw my dan picture..she commented that I can't escape from my fate being a dan and when she saw my wawasheng, she exclaimed that it is very nice to look nice in both sheng and dan roles.

But the biggest problem is that you can get confused easily...Just like me trying to hold the TOP's hands in sheng style. No wonder she got so angry with me...(LOL)

Funny Happenings @ the Performance

Funny Happening 1 - TOP insisted that Shengs were to come out from the left side of the stage after the show for the finale. I retorted that I had not heard of such a "rule" that shengs must enter the stage from the left side of the stage for finale. I told her that I was closer to the left side of the stage during the last scene and in order not to waste time, we should disperse accordingly.. TOP to the right as she was nearer to the right and I to the left.

She got angry with me and showed me her black face.

For so many years, I never know of such a rule that shengs enter from the left side of the stage and dans from the right side of the stage. It sounds CRAPPY to me.

So she didn't cooperate with me during the rehearsal for finale...Anyway, not my fault. I just did my best to finish the whole show, that's my mission.

Funny Happening 2 - I lost sense of direction on the stage. The TOP got confused and she exclaimed that I made her look so dumb on stage. Well, it's my fault I must admit. I really lost direction...(LOL)

Leader mentioned that at least I still knew how to get back to the correct position. Well... I think I am a very 随性 type of actress and the newbies surely suffer a shock from me if they co-acted with me. Again...my fault...Too bad, I don't have XJ's excellent memory skill and WMY's computerised movements. (LOL)

I just don't belong to 1 + 1 = 2 kind of actress. I'm more like 1 + 1 - 1 -1 + 2 = 2 kind. (LOL)

Funny Happening 3 - I am a confused dan last night. I just did a wawasheng role the night before and peanut butter sandwiches, I had to switch to a dan with long watersleeves. My watersleeves sucked and I kept on stepping on my costume and my hairpieces got stucked.

In addition, I am so used to sheng's way of holding hands. TOP had to close her hands over mine "forcefully" because I put my hands over hers like a sheng. (LOL)

Funny Happening 4 - One of my dan shoes came out loose on stage. Bewilderment!!!!! I became out of focus because of the embroidered red shoe stared blatantly at me from the side of the stage. I was about to go into the backstage.

So the shoe was kicked into the backstage by Princess Amai. I know my costumes became loose probably due to I'm became slimmer...But my feet can't shrink right...

ML went to the backstage to give me a tongue lashing... (LOL)

Despite that, Princess Amai couldn't hold her laughter.. What she did was...laughed and laughed...

It was time to go on stage....must act sorrowful again...

Funny Happening 5 - I'm good at not crying on stage but my tears were welling up. I didn't let them roll down because I didn't want to be like someone with blue tears...Haha...What a frightening sight! (LOL)

So I skilfully let the tears drip back and hey presto...I got choked by my own tears. They made my throat itchy. I was about to sing....but it was irritated by my tears...So I sang carefully.

Leader lectured me in my car..well...in quite a nice way.

She said that despite I sang and acted well...I have a flaw that needs to rectify. I shall not elaborate on that. But I shall work on it to make it become flawless one day.

Hurray....A target for me to work on and improve. ^^



Last but not least....I forgot to paint my nails. This is something the KH dans never forget. (LOL)

See...Told you, I just not a dan person... (LOL)