Beijing Opera comes to Harper Stage

palbeijing_1ot

Courtesy of harper college

In searching for a way to celebrate the Chinese New Year, Harper College officials wanted to go beyond the traditional dragon dancers and acrobats.

They booked a theater performance rooted in the historic Chinese tradition that features as much acrobatics and staged fighting as it does music, dance and mime.

"Kung Fu Theatre: Tales from the Beijing Opera" takes place Friday in Harper's Performing Arts Center; tickets are $10-$15. The company is based in New York, and its members will be making their first appearance on the Palatine campus.

Their performance features a series of short stories drawn from Chinese history, mythology and folklore, yet in spite of the high-art connotations of its name, Beijing Opera officials describe it as loud and colorful.

"We've designed the program for American audiences, so that while it features both Chinese and English, the critical dialogue is in English," says Merrianne Moore, artistic director.

The plots are accessible too, she adds, comparing them more to classic, physical comedy routines than opera.

Its actors all were professionally trained at the Chinese Beijing Opera, and they are dressed in authentic costumes sent directly from China, Moore adds.

Moore herself spent four years training there, while trying to immerse herself in Chinese culture after graduating from UCLA with a degree in the performing arts. She became hooked on the Chinese version of theater, which incorporates movement in its dramatic storytelling.

"But they're not as exotic or strictly Chinese as you may think," Moore adds. "These stories will feel close to you because of the way we've adapted them, and set them up."

She points to one that features a nun running away from a monastery, while another tells of an innkeeper trying to kill one of his guests, in the dark.

Moore adds that company members have worked to adapt the production for an American audience in their quest to promote cultural awareness.

The theater performance caps a multi-day celebration on campus that started Wednesday with a series of free events for students, including a Lion dance presentation, lesson on using chopsticks sponsored by the Anime Club, and a Chinese cooking demonstration, all in the college's student center.

"This is the second year we've celebrated Chinese New Year," says Chris George, student activities director, "and we wanted to expand it a bit, and offer something unique and interesting."

If you go

What: "Kung Fu Theatre: Tales from the Beijing Opera"

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Tickets: $15 general admission; $12 for Harper faculty, staff and senior citizens; and $10 for Harper students with ID

Call: (847) 925-6100 or visit harpercollege.edu