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Beijing opera, sometimes referred to as Peking Opera , is a national tradition with over 200 years of history. In 1790 four Chinese opera troupes visited Beijing on a performance tour by order of the imperial court. The tour was a hit, and the troupes stayed. This tour was the combination and integration of various kinds of opera including acting, dialogue, singing, music, dancing, and acrobatics, which evolved into the present-day Peking opera. Peking opera is to this day a synthesis of stylized action, singing, dialogue, mime, acrobatic fighting, and dancing to represent a story or depict different characters and their feelings. The performers traditionally developed a loud style of vocalism in order to be heard over large audiences and the orchestra and band. In Peking opera there are four main types of roles: sheng (male), dan (young female), jing (painted face, male), and chou (clown, male or female). "Sheng, Dan, Jing, Chou" are just the terms for four different types of roles. The characters may be loyal or treacherous, beautiful or ugly, and good or bad, their images bringing their portrayal to life. From 1966 until 1976, Beijing opera suffered along with other kinds of theatrical arts in China. All of the traditional pieces reflecting the “Old Societies” were banned from performance. Traditional Beijing Opera was allowed to open performances again in 1978. However, due to the arrival of other entertainment, Beijing opera's out-of-date styles, and the lack of historical and theatrical knowledge of the young, this art had lost much of its audience. In an attempt to attract Beijing opera to a younger audience, the names of the traditional plays sometimes were given a new name to make the performances more appealing to younger audiences. Some people in satirizing this phenomena suggested to rename "The Temple of Gan-Lu" as The Romance of Royal Liu and "Going Palace the Second Time" as A seating Lady and Two Standing Gentles.
Christina E. Wells
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