Quick Answer: What Is Shao Opera?
Shao opera (绍剧, Shàojù), also known as Shaoxing Luantan (绍兴乱弹, Shàoxīng Luàntán), is a theater form from Shaoxing in Zhejiang. Its ensemble supports forceful singing, and its repertoire includes large-cast stories as well as the celebrated Monkey King plays.[1][2][3]
- Place: Shaoxing troupes performed on temple stages and in open village settings.[1]
- Sound: Listen for the bowed fiddle and the sharply marked percussion.[1][2]
- First viewing: A CCTV archive excerpt preserves the Monkey King role in Shao opera.[3][4]
Start with the recorded Monkey King excerpt, where a look can carry as much of the action as a larger gesture.
The Monkey King can hold still for a beat and then turn his head sharply. The pause gives the audience time to follow his attention.
A Shaoxing Tradition on Large Stages
One historical name means Shaoxing large troupe. It refers to the scale of the company and the performance. It fielded more role types and larger productions than local short acts built around two performers. The plays were staged at temple fairs and other outdoor gatherings.[1]
The repertoire also includes religious stories and large-cast historical drama. The Shaoxing Mulian plays are another example, with stories and stage practice documented in regional records.[1][6]
What to Listen For in the Ensemble
Three melodic groups described in a Zhejiang guide are erfan (二凡, èrfán), sanwuqi (三五七, sānwǔqī) and yanglu (阳路, yánglù). Erfan is the principal group in that account. The banhu (板胡, bǎnhú), a bowed fiddle, is a leading instrument in the accompaniment.[2]
Listen for how the longer fiddle sound and the shorter percussion strikes work together. Listen for the short percussion sound as a singer completes a line or the scene moves into action.[1][2]
How Liu Lingtong Played the Monkey King
Liu Lingtong (六龄童, Liù Língtóng) was the stage name of Zhang Zongyi (章宗义, Zhāng Zōngyì). He played the Monkey King in a multi-part production of Journey to the West in the 1940s. CCTV credits him in an excerpt of The Monkey King and the White Bone Demon (孙悟空三打白骨精, Sūn Wùkōng Sān Dǎ Báigǔjīng), an opera filmed in 1960.[3][4][5]
Notice where his eyes and head turn before the body follows. The brief pause can make the next action look like a response to something the character has just noticed.[3][4]
FAQs About Shao Opera
Is Shao opera the same as Yue opera?
Both are associated with Zhejiang and have separate stage histories. In a program, Shao opera identifies the Shaoxing Luantan tradition. The guide to Yue opera covers the neighboring form.[1][2]
Is Liu Lingtong the performer from the television series?
Liu Lingtong is credited in the Shao opera film. Liu Xiao Lingtong (六小龄童, Liù Xiǎo Língtóng) is a different performer associated with the television adaptation. Look for the character 小 in the younger performer’s name when reading the credits.[4][5]
Sources
[1] China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network. Shao Opera
[2] Zhejiang Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences. Shao Opera in Shaoxing
[3] China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network. Zhang Zongyi
[4] CCTV. Shao Opera Archive: The Monkey King and the White Bone Demon
[5] CCTV. Liu Xiao Lingtong and His Connection to Monkey Roles
[6] China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network. Mulian Theater and Transmission