Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Multi-functional Theatre

Dates: November 22-23, 2017

About

Credits

Executive Presenter: YANG Fengyi

Director: ZHOU Zhigang

Script Editor: LI Xiaohui

Cast

Xueyan: WEI Chunrong

LU Bing: YUAN Guoliang

QI Jiguang: CAO Wenzhen

MO Cheng: LI Xin

MO Huaigu: LI Xin

TANG Qin: ZHANG Huan

Mrs. FU: BAI Xiaojun

MO Hao: WANG Chen

Synopsis

The traditional Kunqu Opera programme A Handful Snow, adapted from the masterpiece by LI Yu, a famous Chinese opera writer from the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, is composed by the most representative highlights in the original, including “scapegoat, punishment of hidden villains, interrogation of the head, assassination of TANG Qin, worship of the concubine and return of the cup,” which are the key contents of the masterpiece that tell a story, which took place during the reign of Emperor Jiajing of the Ming Dynasty: The famous politician from Qiantang MO Huaigu offends YAN Shifan, an assistant minister in authority, because of the valuable patrimony “a handful snow”, which is a jade cup. His servant MO Cheng and concubine Xueyan keep thinking of one stratagem after another and even risk their lives to protect the cup and him. TANG Qin, who was a hanger-on of MO Huaigu, covets a high position and handsome salary along with Xueyan’s beauty. By returning kindness with ingratitude, he frames up the innocents time and again, and even implicates MO Huaigu’s quondam friend QI Jiguang, the brigade general of Jizhou. Fortunately, QI Jiguang is saved by LU Bing, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and finally, MO Huaigu’s son MO Haojin succeeds in the imperial examination. He then risks his life to submit a written official document to the emperor to impeach YAN Shifan, with his family’s unredressed grievance that was clearly manifested.

It is worth mentioning that the Assassination of TANG Qin is one of the representative highlights of the Kunqu Opera “Assassination Dan,” while Worship of the Concubine is a traditional opera highlighting peculiarities of Northern Kunqu Opera Theatre. Both highlights have been rarely seen on stage over the years. The adaptation of this classic program makes it all the more attractive.