Were you amazed by the 2008 Opening Ceremony in the Bird-Cage of the Beijing Olympics?
Yes! Then you just have to see OPERA WARRIORS which has been brought to the Opera Theatre at the Sydney Opera House by the same award winning creative team.
Minister of Culture at the Chinese Embassy Ke Yasha wrote in the program, “This is the first time Opera Warriors has been abroad and Sydney is the first city outside China to see it.”
As testimony to this at the Sydney premiere on June 14th was the presence of China’s National TV film and interview crew were reeling it in while dozens of audience members were proudly filming excerpts on their mobile phones.
Ke Yasha went on to explain “It’s a dance drama but in combination with Western opera, Peking opera, martial arts, contemporary dance and even acrobatics.”
The performance of the OPERA WARRIORS celebrates the closing of the Year of Chinese Culture in Australia and is brought to Sydney by the Shanxi Huajin Dance Art Troupe.
OPERA WARRIORS tells the story of three Opera actors who struggle with their own lives behind the scenes in order to bring beauty and cultural tradition to the stage.
Set in the northern part of China in the early 20th Century three young protégés study under the same Master – then join a theatrical troupe and when destiny takes over, their lives change – one is shot by accident, one suffers a disastrous love affair and one finds great success.
Choreography of the very diverse range and style of the dances is by Mr Xing Shimiao and scripted by award winning Ms Pik Wah Li (Lilian Lee). Mr Sha Xialan lit up the Opera House Stage with spectacular lighting displays and the awe-inspiring costumes are designed by Wang Qiuping. – Mr Gao Guangjian designs the atmospheric sets, such as the intricately decorated pagodas on revolves.
Leading Chinese dancers Mr Wang Di and Mr Huang Doudou leads the 60 member dancing troupe. The antics of quaint little monkey, played by Master Wang Wenyi, deserve special mention – and there is maybe a sense of a tinge of disappointment in the audience when Monkey Wang Wenyi took his curtain call along with the troupe – instead of having the honour of a solo bow!
The various Peking Opera actors each wear a different beard when they are on stage. This accessory may be a white beard, black beard or red beard so it indicates ages, gender and the personality of the different on-stage characters. A dancing troupe of flamboyant pinkish/red beards delights the audience.
A scene depicting hungry dancing troupe students who rally to the sound of a brass gong, and savour white rice bowls ladled out from a large wok, is memorable. It is followed by a young girl with long black plaits who frolicks around with the scampering monkey.
A vibrant spring blossom scene is the back-drop for a dance duet with bamboo fishing pole.
The crowded theatre on stage is full of activity, colour and excitement. Smart Wu is at the peak of his talent. Suddenly a gun is fired and chaos breaks out. The dramatic dance of the Opera Warriors features ‘back flags’ that refer to the triangle flags that the dancers wear on their backs.
The flags are printed with different dragon patterns to show masculinity. Through their unique dancing style with back flags, the performers reveal their the power and force.
A prop of costumes on a rack is a back-drop to flying pigtails and the ‘long sleeve’ dance.
This dance is one of the most symbolic Chinese traditional dance styles. In Opera Warriors the long sleeves that performers use are 2.5 metres long and performing dancers throw their long sleeves in free style.
And what happens when the war-lord sends a sedan-chair for his concubine? Plenty of drama, romance and revenge!
Wild monkeys interact with the trained monkey near a large trunk with Chinese characters, and Heidou, one of the protégés, gets inspiration, like a fire-cracker, to start a new Chinese drama school.
One could easily imagine a fire-dragon coming out of the wings at any moment during a very passionate and enthusiastic encore!
Highly recommended, OPERA WARRIORS is only running for a very short season, playing the Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, between the 14th to the 16th June, 2012.
© Esther Rothfield
15th June, 2012
Tags: Sydney Dance Reviews- OPERA WARRIORS, Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Arts Guide, Esther Rothfield.