Music Theatre
The Dream of Handan
Shanghai Kunqu Opera Company
“The Four Dreams of Linchuan”
Shanghai Kunqu Opera Company: “The Dream of Handan”. Cheng Li, Zhang Weiwei © Shanghai Kunqu Opera Company
Lu Sheng is a frustrated scholar who meets Lü Dongbing, an immortal Taoist,at a small inn in the city of Handan. He complains about his lack of success and happiness, and expresses his ambition to take part in the imperial examinations, which should grant him a position as an official. In order to enlighten him and to teach him that fame and success do not always make one happy, the immortal priest lends Lu Sheng a porcelain pillow to sleep on. In his dream, Lu Sheng dreams a 50-year long lifetime in which he has a political career full of glories, excesses, ups and downs. Upon waking, Lu discovers that time hasn’t passed at all. The millet the innkeeper has been cooking for him still is not yet done.
“The Dream of Handan” is the latest play within the cycle and the only one that has the character of an old man at its centre. It is performed by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Company and co-directed by Xie Pingan and Zhang Mingrong, a well-known Kunqu player, who concentrates on the essence of the original material.
Zhang Weiwei as Lu Sheng
Cheng Li as Cui Yingying
Kunqu Opera Cast List
Xie Chen, Sun Jinghua, Wang Jinyu, Zhao Lei, Zhu Linyan, Zhou Liya, Xue Lu, Tang Popo, Yuan Shan, Tao Siyu, Tan Xiao, Kan Xin, An Xinyu, Sun Xu, Ni Xuhao, Lin Yan, Zhou Yimin, Zhang Yiyan, Lou Yunxiao, Jia Zhe, Zhou Zhe, Lin Zhi, Shi Zonghao
Directed by Xie Pingan, Zhang Mingrong
Lighting Design Zhou Zhenping
Costumes Dai Xiuling
Music Gu Zhaolin
Shanghai Kunqu Opera Company
Director Gu Haohao
Vice Director Zhang Yongliang
Stage Director Ding Xiaochun
PR Director & Suǒnà Player Chen Yingwu
Kun Opera Director Shen Kuang / Ni Guang Jin
Performance Coordination Director Gan Chunwei
Administration Sun Yong
Kun Opera & Cultural Researcher Zhou Danyan
Subeditor Qiu Lihua
Kun Opera Chamber
Drum Gao Jun, Li Qi, Wang Yifan
Bamboo Flute Zhang Siwei, Qian Yin, Yang Ziyin
Sheng Wen Weiwei, Zhen Yueqi
Pipa Yang Shengyi
Sanxian Wang Zhihao
Huqin Zhu Min, Zhang Jin, Shen Xiaojun, Chen Yueting
Yangqin Chen Yufang
Bass Ruan Chen Juanjuan
Zheng Bao Danni
Chinese Gong Meng Qiaogen
Cymbals Yu Tianle
Kun Opera Gong Zhang Guoqiang
Stage
Lighting Li Bingchun, Li Jiani, Wu Yueyue
Stage Set Zhang Meng, Zhang Jianshen, Ji Xianyuan, Chen Yang
Sound Zhou Jiawen, Ma Yidong, Luo Yufen
Props Xu Lei, Zhan Yuzhi
Surtitles Zhang Jiawei
Costumes Meng Fanjun, Xu Hongqin, Chen Yu
Head Dresses Bao Xiao, Yang Zhiwen
Make-up Fu Fenglong, Fan Yili