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through the elaborate story that preceded the battle scene felt that they were cheated or short-changed!
I cannot agree more. The audience would expect that both the story that precedes the battle, and the battle itself would be well proportioned and balanced. No wonder it was an anticlimax.
(4) One way to prolong the fighting scene is to introduce some acrobatic performances onto the set. You must remember that, in earlier days, the theatre-goers were allowed to drink tea and eat melon seeds while watching the drama. What a wonderful idea, to be able to go to an Opera and, at the same time, enjoy life while watching the actors doing acrobatics on the stage!
How to Read the Result of the Battle.
Having said so much about the fighting techniques of the Chinese Opera, it would be useful to know how to read the score of a Chinese Opera fighting scene.
First, place yourself in one of the front stall seats facing the stage. The Chinese Opera stage usually has two doors at the back end of the stage, one on your left-hand side, and one on your right-hand side. In the old days, there was a plaque on top of the left-hand side door with two distinguished Chinese characters "" (Chu Jiang), which literally means “the door through which the general enters". We simply call this door the “Entrance Door". Similarly, over the right-hand side door, there is a plaque also with two Chinese characters "" (Ru Xiang), meaning "the door through which the Prime Minister departs". We shall simply call this door the “Exit Door".
Now, when both armies are fighting, if suddenly both parties retire to the back of the stage, each through a different door, you will then know that the battle is a draw. On the other hand, if you see one army suddenly withdraw through the Exit door, with the opposing army hot in pursuit, you will know that the army that withdrew through the Exit door first is losing. This will allow the winning side general a few more minutes to display his army's superiority over the enemy and, in most cases, he may over-react and go through the door last!
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through the claborate story that preceded the battle scene felt that they were cheated on short-changed!
I cannot agree more. The audience would expect that both the story that precedes the battle, and the battle itself would be well proportioned and balanced. No wonder it was an anticlimax.
( 4 ) One way to prolong the fighting scene is to introduce some acrobatic performances onto the set. You must remember that, in earlier days, the theatre goers were allowed to drink tea and eat melon seeds while watching the drama What a wonderful idea, to be able to go to an Opera and, at the same time, enjoy life while watching the actors doing acrobatics on the stage!
How to Read the Result of the Battle.
Having said so much about the fighting techniques of the Chinese Opera, it would be useful to know how to read the score of a Chinese Opera fighting scene.
First place yourself in one of the front stall seats facing the stage. The Chinese Opera stage usually has two doors at the back end of the stage, one on your left hand side, and one on your right hand side. In the old days, there was a plaque on top of the left hand side door with two distinguished Chinese characters ""(Chu Jiang), which literally means “the door through which the general enters". We simply call this door the “Entrance Door". Similarly, over the right hand side door, there is a plaque also with two Chinese characters ""(Ru Xiang), meaning "the door through which the Prime Minister departs" We shall simply call this door the “Exit Door".
Now, when both armies are fighting, if suddenly both parties retire to the back of the stage, each through a different door, you will then know that the battle is a draw. On the other hand, if you see one army suddenly withdraw through the Exit door, with the opposing army hot in pursuit, you will know that the army that withdrew through the Exit door first is losing. This will allow the winning side general a few more minutes to display his army's superiority over the enemy and in most cases, he may over-react and go through the door last!
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