After centuries of meditating, study and self-discipline, a good hearted white snake spirit from the mythical Mount Emi attains immortality and the ability to transform herself into human form. She is curious about the humans that she sees from her lofty mountaintop home, and descends to walk among them in the guise of a beautiful young woman. By the shores of the West Lake, she meets a young man and her heart begins to feel something that it has never experienced before. But, just as the flower of her happiness is beginning to bloom, she finds herself threatened by powerful forces that plot her destruction. Our heroine must fight for her love and her freedom! Will she prevail?
In the traditional Beijing Opera, the role of Lady White Snake is defined as hua dan. A hua dan is a young woman who is beautiful and lively. She is admired for her grace and charm, as well as the beauty of her voice. Her costumes are elaborate and reflect her social status. A hua dan’s repertoire might include playing everything from an empress to a flirtatious courtesan.
This fine young man is from a good background, although he is lacking in wealth. He is an orphan, who is studying to be an apothecary. He passes his days laboring in the herb shop of his sister and her husband, dreaming for the day that he would be able to open his own place of business. One day, when the pear trees are in bloom, he goes to pray at his mother’s grave. On his return, as he is passing by the famed Broken Bridge at the West Lake, he meets a beautiful girl in white, who will change the course of his life!
In the traditional Beijing Opera, the role of Xu Xian is called xiao sheng. The xiao sheng is usually a young scholar, or other person of good social standing. You can spot him on stage, by his black hat with fins projecting from the sides of it. He is also identified by his stage makeup; his face is pale and his cheeks are painted with rouge, to emphasize his youth. He must possess a good singing voice. Sometimes, the part of a xiao sheng is played by a woman.
Like Bai Su, she is also an immortal snake spirit from Mount Emi. She is a bit younger than our heroine, and this manifests itself in her impish personality. She comes to earth in the guise of a servant, and is very determined to take good care of her sister snake spirit. In between coping with her strange new appendages – known as feet – she helps Bai Su to meet the man of her dreams. When trouble rears its ugly head, along with Lady White, she takes up her sword to defend the new life that she and her sister have created.
Like the role of Lady White Snake, Xiao Quin is also a hua dan.
He is a powerful Taoist monk, and has many magics at his disposal. He is always vigilant for demons. One day, upon hearing of the opening of a new apothecary shop, he takes it upon himself to go and pay a visit. With his magical golden alms bowl at his side, he walks inside and sees what is to his eyes a terrible site. A young man is dispensing medicine assisted by what appear to be a girl in white and her maid in green. But Fa Hai is not deceived, for his powers allow him to see that they are in fact, two snake spirits. Assuming that the snakes intend to devour the hapless young man, and then proceed to eat the rest of the populace, the monk is determined to rescue everyone from their clutches.
In the traditional Beijing Opera, the role of the monk would most likely be a lao sheng, which is the role of an older man, although the actor himself might not necessarily be aged. His costumes are generally simpler than those of the xiao sheng, and may represent his profession, in this case that of a religious man. He may also wear a beard, which is either black or grey, depending on the character's age.
|
