RAS-1995 — Page 76

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The Cast:

The story was taken mostly from ancient Chinese history, sometimes literally, sometimes with modifications to suit the taste of the local audience. The different roles of each theatrical troupe can be generally classified as shown in the list below, with each category sub-divided into smaller divisions:

The actor's or

actress's role

Dialogue or

language used in conversation

Will sing in Tune what dialect?

1. Lao Sheng (4) (whiskered old

Hu-kwong dialect (湖廣音)

Hu-kwong dialect Natural

(湖廣音)

gentleman)

2. Lao Tan (D)

-ditto-

-ditto-

-ditto-

(old lady)

3. Ch'ing-yee (*)

-ditto-

-ditto-

-ditto-

(middle aged woman

or the black coat)

4. Hua Tan (#0) (young girl, a

Hu-kwong dialect

-ditto-

-ditto-

teenager or a flirt)

or Peking dialect

5. Dao-ma Tan(52)

(fighting female,

Hu-kwong dialect

-ditto-

Falsetto

usually a woman)

6. Shao Sheng(DE)

(young man, young

-ditto-

-ditto-

-ditto-

warrior, etc.)

7 Hwa Lien (ER)

High

(the painted face)

-ditto-

-ditto-

volume

8. Woo Sheng (A±)

-ditto-

-ditto-

Natural

(fighting man)

9. Court jester (H)

(the joker or

Peking dialect

- ditto-

Natural

clown, etc.)

I

ļ