The Peking Opera 2013 'Farewell to Princess Yu'
Zhengyici Theater
Beijing, China
"A Moment from a time past"
She looks at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair just right, with enough makeup to compliment the red dress she just bought on one of the side roads from the Forbidden Palace. It’s cold and she has chosen to wear her slim black pants under the red dress. Perhaps it is a dashing new look, she thinks to herself???...( she laughs) yes it is she says!!!... One arm and then another as she puts her coat on. The car will meet her a 6:45 down at the hotel entrance. The door closes and she walks towards the elevator. He recognizes her as she exits thru the elevator doors yet she does not him, for he is a different driver tonight. She hands him the card with the address on it. It is only a short ride she had been told. She begins to speak slowly to him, although he does not understand. He replies ha.ha.ha, ok.. confirmed. He goes to close the door behind her but motions to pull her dress inside the door. The door shuts. They drive as she registers every corner they take, a mental note as she feels most comfortable knowing where she is. The car starts to slow as he moves to the side of the road. He motions to the alley, right... She looks at him and says “ down the alley?” He continues with the same gestures.. OK she says to herself... It’s dark out, and the land is unfamiliar.
She exits the car and moves forward. The alley is lightly lite, but untraveled yet only for the few walkers and a bike that passes by. She continues her walk, Temple Theater, also known as the Zhengyici Theater, originally built in 1688. Ok, she believes this is the place. She breathes deeply as this could be one of those lifetime experiences or the worlds worst idea.. hehehe... None the less she moves forward to see. About half way down the alley she sees what appears to be a theater window, very traditional to what we see in the states. There are also a few other people gathering there with tickets in their hands. She walks to the window and once again hands them the business card that reads in Chinese “ Ticket held Thomas - Wintop front row seating” Ahhhh... They nod and proceed to give her a ticket. She reaches for it , turns and walks forward to the opening.
To her right and to her left... almost like another alley, the sky is clear above, yet it is adorned by beautiful colors of red and green wooden frames... bamboo at the end of the hall, stained glass and red/yellow lanterns that glow... The air is cold and brisk. She walks towards the theater room and is taken by vision in front of me. 2 stories high, all wooden and all adorned with details, the carving of the wood, the paintings on the 2nd floor. The Chinese wording on the column that support the stage... The silk drape, a curtain. The lighting just right...Sitting only about 100 people they are benches about 10 feet wide.. 15 rows in total... With black cushions. They walk her to the front, the second row right on the stage on the left aisle. There’s an empty seat to my right and 2 gentlemen next to that. Could be a father and son I’m thinking. The older man stares at her for a bit and then smiles and looks on. She sits for a while and admires the vision around her, realizing how significant this moment is. She sees and will be seeing something so similar to exactly what was seen 325 years ago... what was once a sacred temple... One of which the last in Beijing. The air is cold and she decides to keep her coat on...
She rises though to explore a bit and perhaps capture a few stolen images of this magical place. The stage is small, flanked by those 2 black columns. Each column etched with Chinese words not familiar to me, oh wait I said that already ...hehe There’s what I would call a runway that protruded into the audience. I look at the clock, 7:25pm, a loud dong sounds out.... A group of people make their way onto the stage right... Instruments unknown to me in hand. Interesting how the orchestra in the Peking Opera is part of the act and not a background as in the states where they are placed under the stage not to be seen, but only heard. The orchestra is known in the Peking Opera to be as important to the Opera as are the actors. They sit and wait as I....
AThe stage goes black although I can see the people as they scurry onto the stage and remove the silk curtain behind that the magical vision as the lights come on... The make up, the costumes. “Farewell to Princess Yu” ( Ba Wang Bie Ji) begins... I place my camera on my lap and watch intently in their movement, listen to their sounds, their passion, their emotion, eye contact breathtaking. As I watch the 5 short portraits of a story told of indiscretion, passion, loyalty, war, defeat, and sorrow. The sounds of the music at times equally as powerful as the actors. Knowing every movement, every word, every sound distinct and planned. It ends.... She breath taken away, She rises from her seat as the audience rushes to meet and enter to the stage for a picture. She watches their faces for a short time. She turns and walks exiting a moment that she will remember and tell years from today. Thru the alley, she smiles, The Peking opera... magical....absolutely magical.... A Moment in time.
