Animal Kingdom: 新燕玲歌仔戏 - Yan Xi Mian

Jennifer say:

Today is the first time i had watched xin yan ling opera troupe. I had specially watched this singapore troupe mainly because they had hired 3 taiwanese actress/actors to come to join them. I quite like the guy acting as the lead actor. not too sure of what is his chinese name as i cannot really read taiwan chinese that still use the older type of chinese words used in the 70s. Anyway the actor is someone called Rong from Tainan Yingyun opera troupe(台南鶯藝歌仔戲團). Mum said he looked quite handsome. I would said he is really tall, not too bad in fact esp his powerful voice. Hmm, not too sure if the actor was male or female as i cannot find any information regarding his opera troupe in taiwan. But his/ her height reminded me of this particular handsome teacher in my secondary school days with the same build.

Updated: 5/9/2009: i just happened to learn the name of this group from taiwan: they are siblings ( 羅育忠,羅文惜,羅文君). They will be coming to join 筱麒麟劇團联合 on Lunar August 1 2009 for performance at Tampines road temple: 新加坡仙姑殿八仙瑶池大會. I like Youzhong performance very much so i think will ask mum to go together to watch.

BTW, my "kaponess" also help me to find Xin Yan Ling website set by a fan of their opera troupe: http://xinyenling.multiply.com/journal. I just learnt from their site that they will be coming to Hougang to performance on 16/9 but unfortunately, i only support them if they hire taiwanese to perform. In fact, for me, no taiwaness actor or actress, i will not watch.

Before the opening. I wonder why xin is spell that way. so funny as the xin is spell correctly for the name of the opera troupe.

Poster of today lead actor

The story:

Yan Ximian was a high authority officer. One day, his mum saved his cousin, lan jinfeng whom brother died during a fight. After Ximian asked jifeng to swear to the god that jinfeng will be loyal to the Yan family, jifeng was allowed to enter the Yan family as his foster sister.

The actress acting as Jinfeng aunt, noted that she looked like getai 600. In fact, nowaday, most singapore opera actress looked like 600

Jinfeng with her brother whom was wounded in a fight. Jifeng is the lady wearing black. The white lady is Chunlan, her maid

Yan Ximain with his servants.

Yan Ximian finally agreed to let jinfeng enter the Yan family. Noted how many clothes Jifeng and Chuntao had changed.

Shouqing was married to a woman. In order to get a magistrate job, shouqing decided to leave his town with the support of his wife and his wife brother, lou.

It so happend that Jinfeng was chased by robbers.

Shouqing saved her.

Robbers said: "Money or Life". Jinfeng screamed: I ran, u chase ok?

In most opera screen, hero always appear in the nick of the time and fall in love with the lead actress. Wow, actress changed third set of clothes.

How wonderful if this could happen in reality. Our hero is the one on the right of the screen. The xiaosheng is also the boss of this opera troupe. Mum told me she is called 'Ho Lan'.

Jinfeng gave shouqing her fenghuang pin and asked Shouqing to give the pin to the officer in charge. The pin was supposed to be able to help shouqing claim success in his aim to become a officer.

In the inn, shouqing was followed by the robber. During a fight, shouqing acidentally stabbed the robber to death. The inn boss reported to the lazy magistrate whom announced shouqing guilty without any evidence. Luckily for Shouqing, Ximain arrived and clear shouqing name.

Yan cleared Shouqing name. The dark blue actor is the magistrate. He looked very young - at most less than 20 of age only. Dun really like him, not much of a character shown on stage but heard he is also from Taiwan.

Jinfeng with her aunt whom is now her foster mum. 4th set of clothes. Kapo me must count and count and take shots and shots coz i love accient clothing.

Ximain bought shouqing home. Jinfeng was delighted to see shouqing again. Ximain asked shouqing whether he was married. Shouqing admitted that he was married with a wife whom was carrying his unborn baby. However, jinfeng was willing to become shouqing second wife. Jifeng swear to the god that she will be good to her elder sister and her child. So ximain agreed to let jinfeng marry shouqing.

Yan agreed to be jinfeng matchmaker to arrange for their marriage

Shouqing and Jinfeng happily together

Shouqing send his guy to fetch his wife home. In the yan family, his wife gave birth to a son. Jinfeng maid, Chunlan then hinted to her missy that jinfeng should be the first wife, now that the first wife had a son, it would be hard for jifeng to claim her husband comfort. Jinfeng realised her maid was saying the truth. Jinfeng promised to kill both the wife and her son.

Chunlan taught her missy, jinfeng how to plot against the first wife

In the garden, jinfeng pretended to give a wine to the wife. In fact, the wine was poison. Jinfeng then took the baby and pretended to be concerned. Once the baby was in her hand, jifeng revealed her evil side and struggled the poor baby to death. When the wife tried to stop her, jifeng stabbed the wife to death. Jinfeng ordered Chunlan to bury the bodies in the garden. Just then, the wife brother and the yan servant arrived in the Yan wanting to see the baby and the mother. The brother falled into the loosen soil. Upon digging, they discovered the body. Jifeng tried to stop them from escaping but they managed to run. Jinfeng then ordered chunlan to take the bodies into her own bedroom.

Jinfeng ordered her men to try to murder the brother and the servant

The brother and the servant decided to sue jinfeng by seeking Yan Ximian help. In the court when the brother and servant said they want to sue jifeng, ximian chased them out. However, the servant believed that ximian was a justice man and entered the court again stating their true motive. Ximian asked his guy to dig the garden but discovered nothing. Then Ximain asked his guy to check jinfeng bedroom. The bodies were found under the bed. Ximain ordered jinfeng and chunlan to court.

In the court, Both jinfeng and Chunlan deny their act. Ximain asked chunlan to swear that she had nothing to do with the double murder. Chunlan swear that if she lies, she will be taken away by the ghost. At the end of her words, chunlan was died on the ground supposing to be taken away by the ghost of the wife. Jinfeng then begged for pardon and signed the criminal letter admitting to the murder. Jinfeng begged for pardon and cried for ximain mum. The mum arrived and tried to protect her foster daughter. Ximain tricked his mum out of the court and use the sword to end jinfeng life.