Peony Pavilion from Suzhou
Last weekend, the Hong Kong Arts Festival closed after five weeks of exciting programmes. The official closing performance was “Dream in The Peony Pavilion” performed by the Suzhou Song and Dance Theatre. The choreographer of this two-act production is Li Xing.
This long production, which lasts for nearly three hours, is divided into two acts. It is based on the story of Tang Xianzhu’s famed play “The Peony Pavilion” which was written over 400 years ago in the Ming Dynasty. The story, briefly, is about Du Liniang, the daughter of a magistrate, who strolls in the garden one day and falls into a dream at the Peony Pavilion. In her dream she encounters a scholar bearing a willow branch, Liu Mengmei, and falls in love with him. Du Liniang dies, but she is resurrected by Liu’s love for her.
Act 1 is far too long lasting for almost 90 minutes. It carries on with Liniang’s awakening from her dream, and ends with her subsequent death. The shorter Act 2, which lasts for an hour, is tighter in drama. It starts with Liu spending a night in the Du estate to take shelter before travelling to take the imperial examination. At the Peony Pavilion he unexpectedly finds Liniang’s portrait, falls in love with her, and tries to find her in the underworld.
Overall, the narrative is very clear in this dance theatre work, though the approach is sometimes too long-winded. The stage effects are impressive, with constant use of smoke to evoke the unreal dream world in Act 1 as well as the underworld in Act 2. The scene in the underworld when Liu is searching for Liniang among the ghosts is very powerful.
In terms of choreography, the vocabulary is narrow but effective. In Act 1 there is a surplus of duets expressing her love for Liu. Several of the duets are pretty moving. However, the final reunion duet for Liu and Liniang in Act 2 is too restrained and lacking in passion.
The music score by Zhao Bo is like a film score but works well. The sets and costume designs are pleasing. The stage extends out into the auditorium with a platform like a catwalk.
Hu Jie was graceful and expressive as Du Liniang. Luo Yuwen however lacked charisma as the scholar Liu, and his acting was slightly understated. Li Qian was attractive as the Flower Goddess, while Li Zheng had authority as the Judge of the underworld. The Suzhou Song and Dance Theatre is a first-rate company.
Overall, “Dream of the Peony Pavilion” is a moving work of dance theatre which however can benefit from some pruning. It is definitely a fitting choice as the closing programme of this year’s Hong Kong Arts Festival.
Photo – courtesy of HK Arts Festival
-
Government rewrites history of Hong Kong Mark O'Neill
The government has rewritten the history of Hong Kong, saying that it was never a colony because British rule was illegal and was never democratic and downplaying the events of 1989. “The Hong Kong
-
Hong Kong Turns Green for a Day Mark O'Neill
On one day a year, March 17, the world, including Hong Kong, turns green. It is St Patrick’s Day, the National Day of Ireland, when cities around the world hold parades, balls, sports competitions
-
First two HK martyrs in Ukraine war were “so brave, so selfless” Mark O'Neill
On a cold Sunday afternoon, January 11, in west London, a large crowd of British, Ukrainian and Hong Kong people gathered to say goodbye to the first Hong Kong martyrs of the Ukrainian war. “I pay my
-
How the Irish Made Hong Kong Mark O'Neill
They provided nine of Hong Kong’s 28 governors, cured the city of tuberculosis, built and managed schools that have transformed the lives of tens of thousands of its people and won four Olympic
-
HK people in UK fear new immigration rules Mark O'Neill
Hong Kong migrants to Britain have launched a nationwide lobbying campaign to protect their future after the government published proposals to narrow their path to citizenship. Since 2021, 160,000