It is not easy for people living in the metropolis of Shanghai to spare enough time for a drama that goes for 10 hours, but Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe's new production of The Palace of Eternal Youth (Changsheng Dian) has been filling the Lyceum Theater with enthusiastic audiences since it opened at the Shanghai International Arts Festival on October 22.

Among them are elderly Kunqu fans, but surprisingly, there are more young people. According to a survey by the troupe in June when the play premiered, among the 1,608 people in the audiences who returned their questionnaires, 66 percent ranged from 19 to 35 years old, and more than half bought set tickets. It seems that Kunqu or Kunju, one of the oldest forms of Chinese opera, is winning favor with generations X and Y.

Wang Yan, a 34-year-old advertising copywriter, began to listen to Kunqu only last year. She attended the premiere of The Palace of Eternal Youth in June, and came back for the ongoing round of performances. "I love the lyrics and melodies of Kunqu," says Wang. "Every time, I am moved to tears at the scene of 'Burying the Jade' in The Palace of Eternal Youth."

The story of The Palace of Eternal Youth is set in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

The Emperor Li Longji spoiled his concubine Yang Yuhuan and did not care much about State affairs. Li's efforts to please Yang included an order that litchis be sent immediately from South China's Hainan Island, which angered the public.

Li appointed Yang's corrupt brother Yang Guozhong as the prime minister, and as a result, trusted general An Lushan became a rebel and occupied Tang's capital Chang'an. Li was then forced to flee to Southwest China's Sichuan Province. The disgruntled troops mutinied, killing Yang Guozhong and demanded that Lady Yang be put to death. When Li refused to comply, Lady Yang hanged herself.

After the rebellion was suppressed, Li built a shrine to Lady Yang and was overwhelmed with bittersweet memories. Lady Yang, who was once a fairy in heaven, returned to the fairy mountain. Through a necromancer, they met in the Guanghan Palace of the moon and remained as lovers in the highest heaven.

Written by Hong Sheng (1645-1704) in 1688, The Palace of Eternal Youth is a masterpiece of the Kunqu opera. Through the work, Hong turned a part of history into a legend that spans the human world, heaven and hell.

However, the play, which consists of five acts and 50 scenes, has rarely been staged in its full length. In the last 100 years or so, only a few excerpts have been performed.

The Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe has spent three years on the new production of The Palace of Eternal Youth, which is almost a complete version missing only a few parts.

Tang Sifu, who produced the play and adapted the script for the stage, says she originally planned to include all of the five acts and 50 scenes, but eventually condensed it to four acts and 43 scenes, fearing that it would become too tedious for today's audiences.

Scenes from The Palace of Eternal Youth feature Emperor Li Longji and his concubine Yang Yuhuan. The newly produced Kunqu opera, staged during the ongoing Shanghai International Arts Festival, lasts 10 hours.File photos
 
"Most Kunqu audiences are familiar with eight of the most dramatic scenes that are often performed individually. We are trying to make other scenes of the production as appealing as those eight scenes," says Tang.

Subtitles in both Chinese and English are provided during the performance, making it easier for foreigners and young audiences to understand the lyrics.

In terms of music, the band plays the ancient Chinese instrument bianzhong (set chimes), which adds a solemn atmosphere to the play.

For some Kunqu fans, it was the performances of senior actors such as Cai Zhengren, Zhang Jingxian and Ji Zhenhua that impressed them most.

"It is a challenge for a Kunqu actor to play The Palace of Eternal Youth, since the story involves not only love but also imperial lives," says 66-year-old Cai Zhengren, who plays Emperor Li in the third act of the play. "I believe that it is more difficult than the other Kunqu classic Peony Pavilion."

The cast of The Palace of Eternal Youth is a combination of senior and young actors. Young actors such as Zhang Jun and Li An have also been warmly received.

"I have performed excerpts of The Palace of Eternal Youth before, but after rehearsing the whole play I came to understand it more deeply," says 32-year-old actor Li An, who plays Emperor Li in the second and fourth acts. "It is a difficult but enjoyable work."

The Shanghai Kunju Opera Troupe will give three complete performances of The Palace of Eternal Youth at the Shanghai International Arts Festival. The second performance will end tonight with the fourth act. The last complete performance of all the four acts will be held on the afternoons and evenings of Saturday and Sunday.

(China Dialy November 2, 2007)