"Southern Red Beans" fragrant in Beijing Cantonese opera "Dream Red Boat" Beijing tour broadcasted by SCIENJOY

Published on : 15 December 2020

Exciting Cantonese opera "Dream Red Boat" will be performed by Guangdong Cantonese Opera Theatre at 19:30 on December 15th in Beijing Mei Lanfang Grand Theatre. The show aims to show people in Beijing the unique charm of Cantonese opera as a symbol of Lingnan culture. The Dean of Guangdong Cantonese Opera-Zeng Xiaomin will join the stage with many famous Cantonese opera artists including Ou Kaiming, Li Junsheng, Peng Qinghua, Wen Ruqing, Huang Chunqiang, Wang Yanfei and Xian Jiantang. They will try to deliver a rich Cantonese opera art and cultural feast to audiences who like drama in Beijing. This event is exclusively supported by SCIENJOY, and the show itself will be broadcasted online, and people can watch it in real time remotely through room ID number 7080405.

"Dream Red Boat" was produced and performed by a group of National first-class actors from Guangdong Cantonese Opera, including Peng Qinghua who is the national first-class actor, Zeng Xiaomin who won Wenhua Performance Award, Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award, and national first-class actor Wen Ruqing starred, who won the first prize of Outstanding Repertoire, Outstanding Director, Screenwriter, Outstanding Performance in the 12th Guangdong Art Festival; the first prize of the 2nd Guangdong Drama and Literature Award; the 10th Guangdong Provincial Spiritual Civilization Construction "Five One Project" Awards and participated in the 11th China Arts Festival. The show is co-produced by the famous screenwriter Liang Yunan and Yin Hongbo and directed by the famous performing artist Ding Fan. The show is based on the story of the Cantonese opera Red Boat troupe in the 1930s. This play tells the story of Cantonese opera artists Kwong Sanhua, Mei Qing, Chao Jianlang and the Red Boat apprentice resisted Japanese invaders during the War of Resistance. When the characters were performing "Fire Huang Tiandang", they boarded the top of the ship with the Cantonese opera stunt, "High Stage Mirror”, holding torches and succeeded in bombing of the Red Ship and the Japanese invaders. This play reproduces the heroic feats of Cantonese opera artists in resisting bullies, warlords and Japanese invaders in the 1930s. Therefore, it has a strong patriotic spirit and has won high praise from audiences and experts since it began to perform. In the play, Peng Qinghua plays the Cantonese opera artist Kwong Sanhua, who is good at singing and martial arts. In his martial arts scenes, he showed the standard southern style of martial arts. Using the drumhead and the drum stand as the focal point, the coherent southern style of Cantonese opera further demonstrates Peng Qinghua's martial arts.

The climax of the play is exciting. The singing and music not only highlight the characteristics of Cantonese opera singing, but also integrate the elements of the times. The costumes and props are well-made and pleasing to the eye with Lingnan characteristics. The stage beauty and lighting design are simple and abstract but poetic. In summary, this is an excellent work that integrates ideological, artistic, and ornamental features.

Introduction to the plot of Dream Red Boat

Cantonese opera "Dream Red Boat" is based on the story of the Cantonese opera Red Boat troupe in the 1930s. This play tells the story of Cantonese opera artists Kwong Sanhua injuring his legs and getting handicapped when practicing the “High Stage Mirror" of southern play "Fire Huang Tiandang" but still being obsessed with Cantonese opera. He sold his properties to reunion the “Sword Shadow Troupe", hoping to revive the southern play. Under the slaughter of the Japanese invadors, the artists of Red Boats carried out a battle of wits and courage. Using the opportunity to perform "Fire Huang Tiandang", Kwong Sanhua held torches and boarded the top of the ship with the Cantonese opera stunt, "High Stage Mirror”. He ignited the boat, and all came to an end. Although the red boat sunk, the spirit of Red boat exists forever.