To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 23:10:01 -0400
Subject: [Puptcrit] CTW performance of Whitesnake


Hey pupt-critters,

  Not to change the subject or anything. Just want to inform everybody  
about Chinese Theatre Works' upcoming show: "The Legend of White  
Snake." Hope to see some of you there!



"The Legend of White Snake" is a unique blending of two very different  
theatrical versions of this traditional story. The Kun opera portions  
of the program feature some of the opera=92s best-known  scenes, with  
the centuries old   arias, dance, pantomime and masterful martial  
arts, performed by our company of professional trained Chinese opera  
actors in exquisitely embroidered silk costumes and full stage makeup.  
The shadow portions feature antique leather shadow figures that were  
originally collected by Pauline Benton in the 1920=92s and 1930=92s as  
well as contemporary shadow effects by master puppet designer, Stephen  
Kaplin.

White Snake is a unique character in Chinese literature and myth, at  
once a powerful, mythical creature (a snake spirit) gifted with  
magical healing powers, an enterprising businesswoman, a romantic  
lover, wife, mother, and a fierce, implacable warrior. Her exploits  
have been a staple in every genre of Chinese stage performance =96  
including the Kun opera version that we have excerpted for this  
production =96 with countless variants in traditional and regional  
puppet and shadow theater styles. Together with her sister, Blue  
Snake, White Snake chooses to take on a human form in order to  
progress spiritually. Soon after coming to the beautiful West Lake,  
she meets and falls in love with Xu Xien, a kind hearted, though  
somewhat naive, young herbalist of modest means and no family and the  
two soon marry. However, their idyllic romance is disrupted by a  
narrow-minded and doctrinaire Buddhist Monk named Fa Hai, who  
fervently believes that the intermarriage of an animal spirit with a  
human being constitutes an affront to the Cosmic Order. He does  
everything he can to force them apart. Only White Snake's repeated and  
vigorous opposition, assisted by Bluesnake=92s formidable martial arts  
abilities, defeats his plans. Eventually however Fa Hai, finally  
manages to capture White Snake with a magical snare and imprison her  
beneath a huge pagoda.

FREE!! Two shows only
Saturday, Oct 10 & Sunday 11, 2009   at 7:30 pm

In the courtyard of Pace University=B4s Main Building in Lower  
Manhattan  (entrance on Spruce Street)

Phone for reservations:  (718) 457-1627. (Please bring a valid ID to
enter the campus.)

Stephen Kaplin
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