Liyuan Experimental Opera Theatre (Fujian – China) – Zeng Jingping

The Widow and the Man of Letters
by Wang Renjie - You Fengwei



Though the Liyuan Opera tradition extends back to the 14th century, this magical production still astonishes with the modernity of its abstract style.
On his death-bed, Counsellor Peng extracts two promises from Dong, the Man of Letters: to keep a close eye on his young and beautiful widow, Li, and to visit his tomb without failing to deliver his report every month...
The exceptional Chinese cast convey the conflicting emotions of desire and restraint, love and hostility with grace and virtuosity, employing spoken language, song, eighteen codified movements and the Nanyin music which UNESCO has declared a world heritage monument. As Brecht noted, the Chinese theatre has much to teach the Europeans.


In Chinese with Greek surtitles