Chao Opera, also called "Chaozhou Opera," is popular in the Chao'an and Shantou regions of
Guangdong Province, in the southern area of Fujian Province and in Taiwan where people speak
Chaozhou dialect. It is also performed in Chinese communities in other countries of Southeast
Asia. Bases on the folk dances and ballad-singing of the Chaozhou region, it formed its own
style under the influence of Nanxi(one of the oldest Chinese operas that originated in the
Song Dynasty. Its tunes are graceful and pleasant, full of local color. The old form of
choral accompaniment still remains its special features. The clowns and females are the
most distinctive characters. The female performers are good at imitating the movements of
animals, shadow figures and puppets, creating very pleasing and amusing effects. The
fan-playing and acrobatic skills are especially unique.
The following is a list of synopses of famous plays in its repertoire.
Beauty's Tears, A(Meiren Lei): Feng Xiangluo is engaged to her cousin. The
empress of that time is unable to bear children, and is worried that the throne will fall
into some other family's hands. She carries Feng Xiangluo off to the Ankun chamber and
forces her to have a child by the emperor. After Feng gives birth to a son, she is driven
out of the imperial gate. Sixteen years later, the emperor dies. Xiangluo's son, Youcong,
ascends to the throne. To safeguard his name and status, he murders his mother.
Girl Named Jin Hua, A(Jin Hua Nu): Jin Hua wants to marry Liu Yong, a poor
student, in spite of his poverty. her brother, Jin Zhang, supports her but her greedy
sister-in-law, Wu Shi, is totally against the marriage. Jin Zhang gives Liu Yong money
to go to the capital and take the imperial examination. Jin Hua accompanies him. On the
way they are attacked by robbers and finish up in the river. They are saved and Jin Hua
returns home. She refuses her sister-in-law's attempt at an arranged marriage. She is sent
to herd sheep and chop wood at Mount Nan as a punishment. Liu Yong, meanwhile, having passed
the exam, comes to Mount Nan and chances upon Jin Hua. The couple reunite. Wu Shi is
punished for her greediness and wickedness.
Idiot's Dream, A(Chi Meng): In the Han dynasty, Zhu Maichen, a student from
a poor family makes a living by selling firewood. His wife Cui complains of his humble status,
and forces him to let her leave him. Then she marries Zhao, a carpenter. One day Cui learns
that Zhu Maichen has passed the imperial examination and become a magistrate at Huiji. She
is filled with regret and anger. Vainly hoping for a reunion with Zhu, she has a dream, in
which she has become an imperial mandarin in fine costume.
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Meeting at a Convent(Antang Hui): Zhizhen, a nun, falls in love with Shen
Guisheng, a scholar. They marry but Guisheng dies of an illness. Their son survives and is
named Yuan Zai. Sixteen years pass before Yuan Zai learns of his origin and leaves for the
convent in a bid to see his mother. Constrained by the pratices and disciplines of the
convent, Zhi Zhen does not dare to recognize him as her son at first, but finally does,
having heard Yuan Zai pleading, which touches her heart. Mother and son are reunited.
Meeting at the Firewood Hut(Chaifang Hui): Li Laosan, a small tradesman,
puts up for the night in the firewood hut of an inn. He is alarmed to see the ghost of a
young woman called Mo Erniang, who was murdered by a villain named Yangchun, and who begs
Li Laosan to avenge her death. Mo Erniang is pretty , even though a ghost. The play
demonstrates the wickedness of Yangchun and the honesty, humour and justice of Li Laosan.
It was once popular in Southeast Asian countries as " a splendid picture of an interesting
ghost on earth."
Snowfall in June, The(Dou Er Yuan): Dou Er and her mother-in-law, Cai,
depends on each other for survival. One day, a hooligan, Zhang Lu'er, and his father,
break in. Zhang's father wants to take Cai as his wife, and he himself wants to force
Dou Er to marry him. The two women turns them down and in an attempt to poison Cai and
seize Dou Er, Zhang poisons his father by mistake. He puts the blame on Dou Er, bribes
the corrupt judges of her case, and has her sentenced to death. At high noon on a June
day she is led out to execution. She cries to the blue sky for justice: "After my death,
let it snow, to show I was innocent of these charges." After Dou Er has been executed it
begins to snow heavily.
Stealing a Poem(Tou Shi): Pan Bizheng, a student, fails in the imperial
examination and moves to a convent where he meets Chen Miaochang, a nun. They adore each
other, but because of the strict religious disciplines, Miaochang is unable to reveal her
affections, so she whiles away her time by writing poems. One day, Bizheng is in Miaochang's
room and happens to read a poem revealing her love for him. He determined to court her and
the two become a couple at last.
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