The National University of Singapore proudly presents
THE WEST WING
by the Theatre Studies Programme
Department of English Language and Literature
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Show run: April 4 – 8, 2008
The University Cultural Centre (UCC)
Dear Media Friends,
A controversial play written in the Tang Dynasty will be staged for the first time in Asia.
Titled Xi Xiang Ji, or Meeting the Fox Fairy in English, the play was banned during the period of three dynasties, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, for its risqué and liberal political and sexual content.
For the first time, the National University of Singapore is bringing this play to the stage – but with a modern twist.
In its original Chinese text, the play was performed in closely rhymed verse. Here, NUS has taken the bold step to interpret the play in English, using Shakespearean heroic couplets to mimic its traditional rhyme (See Appendix A).
Under the leadership and direction of Associate Professor Grant Shen, who is best known for his impressive productions in Asia – Freed by a Flirt (1995 ), Sukeroku Flower of Edo (1998), Shakuntala of the Mahabharata (2005) – this exciting interpretative play adheres to the tradition of Chinese opera while injecting a dose of originality.
Dr Shen is respected and well-known in theatre circles across the world - in Singapore, Japan and Australia. His specialty in Asian theatre gives him the advantage of crossing cultural boundaries, as well as elevating the discourse of interpretive theatre among global audiences .
This is no exception.
When the Chinese opera was initially performed throughout the different dynasties, its librettos were reset to the music at that time period. Following the precedence of tradition, and wanting to create an authentic audience experience, the libretto is again re-cast, this time using popular Western styles of music heard around the world today: Classical, Jazz and Hip-hop.
In addition, this 2008 adaptation provides audiences a choice of two very different styles of presentations – Opera and Opera-dance, another first in Asia.
Considered by many scholars to be the best piece of Chinese opera in existence, it is with great pride that the National University of Singapore stages this controversial text in a performance that will be filled with lust, comedy and tragedy.
This is a story of young love, a story of determination, and above all, a story that will prove to audiences that Chinese opera is, quite simply, not “dead.”
Appendix A
Zhang, a scholar of talent from Luoyang, 西洛张生
And Oriole of Boling, charming and young: 博陵崔氏
A perfect pair of gold and jade they make 一双白璧
By what fair means their growing thirst to slake? 两南金
Shelter seekers at a Buddhist temple, 寄居萧寺
On time-honored codes they cannot trample. 无计达佳音
When Flying Tiger launches an attack, 忽遇孙彪作耗
Zhang plots to have the rebels driven back. 君瑞请兵退贼
Oriole's hand in marriage Madam has touted
Should loutish rebels ever be routed. 当许下成亲
How could a worthy hero so driven, 岂料功成后
Expect Madam to break the promise given? 老母背前盟
Scarlet serves as go-between for the night, 托红娘传密意
So star-crossed lovers hold each other tight! 遂初心
Madam relents, the pair is united; 重谐伉俪
To this day, their story has delighted! 传说到如今