Chinese Opera

It was a long long time since I come close to watching a Chinese Opera. The last time I remembered watching one was when I was a small kid. I still recalled that the opera stage was built on wooden poles and the stage was about six to seven feet high. At this level, all the audience would be able to watch and more people can enjoy the live movie.

I could remember walking next to the stage and watching the backstage opera actors putting on their costumes and makeup. I also witnessed the orchestra behind the props, playing and enjoying to the needed Chinese tunes to create that atmosphere for the story at front stage. Their instruments were indeed out of the ordinary.

The opera actors were awesome too. Their singing were at high pitch and their acting were natural and sometimes fun to watch. You can literally see their faces all laid with thick makeup and can therefore see their expressions vividly when the stage lights were all shining on them. Even the supporting actors and actresses were all beautifully dressed for the big show.

Just for fun, I also walked under the stage so that we could see the shadow of the folks above walking here and there on the stage. It was dark and fun. In those days, you will also see hawkers selling food items like sweets, packets snacks and lollipop candies.

Those were really good memories of my childhood days.

:)