>> Comedy: Double Doggie's Ideas for Life
Organizers: National Theater of China and PKU Conference Center
Director: Meng Jinghui
Leading Actors: Liu Xiaoye and Han Pengyi
Venue: PKU Hall
Date: Sept. 24-26, 2010 (Friday to Sunday)
Time: 19:00
>> Concert: Clarinet Solo by Tao Xuguang
Venue: Multifunctional Hall, PKU Hall
Date: Sept. 25, 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 19:00
>> Pingju Opera: Qin Xianglian
Organizers: China Pingju Opera Theater and PKU Conference Center
Director: Meng Jinghui
Leading Actors:
Qin Xianglian: Liu Ping and Liu Huixin
Bao Zheng: Sun Luyang
Chen Shimei: Wang Quanyou
Plot: Chen Shimei, Qin Xianglian's husband, has gone to the capital to take the imperial examinations, but hasn't written to her for years. Xianglian's mother and father-in-law died of starvation during a drought, so she set off with her two children to look for her husband in the capital. When she arrived she discovered that Chen had become the best scholar in the city and had married a princess. Xianglian crashed Chen's birthday party in the palace, but he pretended not to know her or their children and sent them away.
Wang Yanling, an old man having worked for three emperors, learned about Xianglian's case and had her pretend to be a countrywoman singing old songs at the party, but Chen recognized her and threw her out of the capital. He asked a soldier, Han Qi, to kill her and the children in order to cover up his secret. Han Qi found them in a humble temple, but couldn't kill them after hearing Xianglian's tale. He released her and the children, but because he couldn't complete his mission, he killed himself. Xianglian was overcome with grief and indignation, and formally complained to Judge Bao. Judge Bao took the case and told Chen to come and defend himself. Chen thought he would be protected by the court, even bringing the Imperial Aunt and the Grand Mentor in an attempt to intimidate Judge Bao. The old judge stood firm and was unimpressed by Chen's displays of strength. In the end, Chen was executed.
Venue: PKU Hall
Date: Oct. 6, 2010 (Wednesday)
Time: 19:00
>> Hebei Bangzi Opera: The Injustice to Dou E
Playwright (Adapter): Guo Qihong
Director: Xu Chunlan
Leading Actress: Wang Hongling
Plot: The play exposes the dark side of the society of the Yuan Dynasty through the tragic death of a young woman named Dou E. The heroine lost her mother at the age of seven and was separated from her father at 10, when she was sold as a child bride to offset the debt. Not long after she grew up and got married, her husband died. Later she was subjected to the bullying and humiliation of hooligans and gangsters. As a result, she was wrongly accused of involvement in a murder case. Under the torture of the corrupt interrogating officials, she confessed to the false charge and was sentenced to death.
Being wronged, Dou E strongly condemned the corrupt officials, the heaven, and the earth at the execution ground, vowing to retaliate against the injustice of real life. She made three pledges before being executed - snowfalls in June, all her blood splitting on the three-feet white silk sheet, and three years' drought in the local area. All three pledges were realized in due time. After her death, Dou E turned into a ghost and continued fighting for justice. Finally, her wrong was righted. The hooligans and corrupt officials got what they deserved. Justice prevailed.
Venue: PKU Hall
Date: Oct. 9, 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 19:00
>> "Night of Gypsy Jazz" - The 9th Live Chamber Music
Guitar: Daniel Brustman (US) and Nico Torrese (France)
Accordion: Zoe Wang (China)
Venue: Multifunctional Hall, PKU Hall
Date: Oct. 9, 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 19:00
Edited by: Jacques
Copyright 2010 Peking University News | BeidaNews@pku.edu.cn
