Debut of Beijing Opera in Jakarta

Debut of Beijing Opera in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Chinese theater. Was it ever seen in Jakarta?
Not during the decades when everything Chinese was banned in
Indonesia.

Still, it would be doubtful that even during the days when
Chinese theater was allowed, there would not have been
performances of the kind that will be seen today through Sept. 16
at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, i.e. performances of Beijing Opera.
The Chinese in Indonesia are mostly from China's southern
provinces, so even during the twenties and thirties this type of
Chinese dramatic art would rarely, if ever, have been seen in
Indonesia. Thus the Hebei Beijing Opera is making its Indonesian
debut during the current Jakarta International Festival of the
Performing Arts.

Just as Italian opera is not confined exclusively to Italy or
the Italians, the term Beijing Opera has less to do with
geographic location than with style. The 20-strong troupe,
comprising of actors, actresses, musicians, and a make-up expert,
is a part of the Beijing opera company from the city of Hebei. It
was established in 1953 under the name Lizhong Experimental
Theater, which was later changed to Hebei Beijing Opera.

Beijing Opera was born 200 years ago during the Ching dynasty
and, according to Zhou Bin, cultural attache at the embassy of
the People's Republic of China, there are two types of this
performing art: one stresses music and singing, the other
stresses action.

The action-packed type enjoys the most popularity abroad,
mainly due to the enormous impact of kung fu movies. Just as some
dance forms have evolved from martial arts like karate and
Indonesia's pencak silat, the presentations by the Hebei Beijing
Opera incorporate kung fu.

The troupe has made extensive tours outside China and some of
its performers have even gained stardom; like the two female
artists Zhang Huifang, Yuan Ruifang and the male star, Wei
Jianping. All three will perform in Jakarta. The show will
feature fragments from operas popular in China including Zhao Jun
Leaves the Border, To Stop Horses, The Goddess Tian Nu Scatters
Flowers, Crossroad of San Cha Kou and Picking Up a Jade Bracelet.
Most of the artists are graduates from the Chinese Drama
Institute and Hebei Arts School.

Tickets for the performances are priced at Rp 75,000, Rp
50,000 and Rp 35,000. The Rp 75,000 price applies to the first
night only, and includes a banquet.

-- Gus Kairupan