In an innovative departure from conventional realism, the latest production of Beijing People features Peking Opera performers in dramatic roles, creating a groundbreaking theatrical experiment through circular narrative structure and modern perspective. This bold reinterpretation of Cao Yu’s classic work celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Central Academy of Drama while paying tribute to its honorary president and the play’s original author.
The production opens with an ethereal soundscape – cooing pigeons, clinking coins, and the distinctive vocal cadences of Peking Opera performers delivering monologues. These elements establish a radically different aesthetic from previous dramatic versions. Particularly striking are the dream sequence featuring Du Liniang’s operatic movements and Jiang Tai’s climactic “wrestling fall,” moments where the performers’ traditional training creates breathtaking tension that leaves audiences both startled and captivated.
“We aimed to explore the untapped potential of Peking Opera artists in dramatic roles,” explained the creative team. By integrating the four fundamental skills of Chinese opera – singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatics – into modern dramatic performance, the production achieves a unique synthesis where “each contains elements of the other, yet neither becomes the other.” The performers’ rigorous training enables extraordinary vocal and physical expression, while their opera backgrounds remain subtly present rather than overt.
The staging also advances contemporary theatrical aesthetics through innovative scenography and dramaturgy. More than just a tribute to China’s theater heritage, this Beijing People offers audiences a distinctly Chinese theatrical rhythm, physicality, and emotional vocabulary – demonstrating how traditional arts can breathe new life into modern drama while maintaining their essential character.
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