AFTER nine years since their magical performances in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, the world-renowned GuoGuang Opera Company made a triumphant return to Malaysia recently, marking their second outing in the country.
Taiwan's premier opera company graced the stage of the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) from July 12 to 14 and will be appearing at the George Town Festival in Penang from July 20 to 21.
PEKING OPERA
Formed in 1995 and currently Taiwan's only national Peking opera troupe, GuoGuang is known for its innovative infusion of contemporary consciousness into traditional opera, allowing the genre to evolve with the times.
They have captivated audiences in France, Prague, Shanghai and Singapore, where they have performed four times.
Jingju, or Peking opera, is an art form centred around performers, and Jingju performers evoke the audience's imaginations with their artistry and stylised actions, bringing all elements of the universe to life on stage, from mountains and rivers to grand palaces and small temples.
FAKE DEATH
The 29-member troupe led by director Peng Chun-Kang kick-started its Malaysian tour with a double bill, consisting of 'Zhuangzi Tests His Wife' and 'Lu Wen Long'.
In the former, philosopher Zhuangzi faked his death to test his wife Tian's fidelity.
The story examined many facets of human nature, and veteran performer Ling Chia-Lin did a stellar job playing the "unfaithful" yet redeeming Tian.
Two paper effigies were a surprising addition to the opera, originally brought to life by Zhuangzi so they could keep watch on his wife.
The ensemble cast, which included Tsou Tzu-Ai, Hsieh Kuan-Sheng and Tsou Tzu-Min, did a great job, too.
SOMERSAULTS
In the latter performance, 16-year-old warrior Lu Wen Long discovered that the man who raised him was the very same man who murdered his birth father.
Its ensemble cast comprised Li Jia-De, Huang Yi-Yung, Huang Shih-Hung, Liu Yu-Chih, Sun Hsien-Po, Pan Shou-Ho, Tao Yu-An and Tsou Tzu-Ai.
Li, the troupe's star martial artist, wowed the crowd with his somersaults, splits and cartwheels playing Lu as he battled his formidable warlord opponents.
All of the characters were dressed in distinctive costumes, which reflected their moods, status and backgrounds.
The troupe made full use of a minimalist stage, sometimes with only small stools, carpets and curtains as props.
THREE KINGDOMS
July 14 saw the troupe perform 'The Death of Zhou Yu', an unmissable classic tale from 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', and 'Guiying's Accusation of Wang Kuei at the Temple', a tragic tale of a famed courtesan.
'The Death of Zhou Yu' depicted the fall of a brave general after facing his most formidable opponent, and also focuses on his mourning wife recollecting their times together from her point of view.
'Guiying' was also a tragic story, about a famous courtesan who was abandoned in favour of the daughter of a high-ranking minister.
UNIVERSITY
In Penang, the troupe will perform at Universiti Sains Malaysia, presenting audiences with 'Avenging Zi Du' and 'Zhuangzi'.
Zi Du was played by award-winning actor Li Chia-De, arguably the best wusheng of his generation, who performed mesmerising martial arts movements.
Touted as one of the most challenging plays for a wusheng (acrobatic male roles), the play required him to perform martial arts while wearing pennants, platform boots, a headdress and a pheasant-tail ornament attached to the headdress.
MACBETH
The troupe's chief executive officer Vivian Chang said that 'Zi Du' was also known as "Oriental Macbeth", a tragedy that dramatised the damaging psychological effects of ambition and jealousy.
Chang said: "There are 29 members (25 men and four women), including 14 musicians, and they are all aged from 23 to 35.
"The actors and actresses learnt to play different characters and master the use of props as well as wearing elaborate costumes"
CITY HALL
Director Peng said they performed in City Hall nine years ago when he was still an actor in the troupe.
GuoGuang's tour was supported by Taiwan's Culture Ministry, National Centre for Traditional Arts and Advantech Foundation, as well as the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia.
Chang said: "Our troupe offers a unique gateway for today's audiences to experience age-old culture and traditions, to witness an art form that is now over 200 years old."