Day 4 ( And last date that i am watching) 斬龍孫 - 18/7/09

Jennifer say:

When mum first watched the beginning of this show, she told me that we had already watched this show before. After some thinking, i realised that i had watched the same storyline but by another taiwan opera troupe in Feb this year before. But nevertheless, i still love watching the performance by a different troupe again.

During the performance, the xiao sheng, Chen shao xiang went down the stage selling pear at 1 for $5 for charity.I managed to take some photos for the xiao sheng

Mum and I were sitting at Row T so the front rows got the attention first.

At last, had come to our row - did a close up

斬 龍 孫
大清三刺，『刺熊、刺馬、刺龍』「刺龍」即為斬龍孫，大清朝十五阿哥愛新覺羅－永成，乃乾隆皇帝之子，奉乾隆皇帝之命，到交趾國催收貢品，竟遇交趾國內亂，女皇兵敗如山倒，同為邦交之國，永成王爺出手援助，幫忙交趾國平定內亂，女皇感念恩情，將獨生女－范阿春，下嫁永成王爺為妾，一回到中原，范阿春竟爭風吃醋，亦殺元配－劉靜如，因而鬧上慈甯宮，在太后做主，平息家變，並由乾隆皇帝為首，上三寶佛寺上香，就在太后為永成王爺之子，愛新覺羅－龍孫，身上刺金龍時，乾隆與范阿春竟犯下違逆五倫之事，為止眾人指責乾隆逼殺親兒、追殺媳婦，在老和尚－圓真幫忙下，愛新覺羅－龍孫倖免于難，圓真和尚帶著龍孫，逃到鎮江金山寺，一躲七年，但紙包不住火，龍孫得知自己身份，亦認祖歸宗，而此時傳來，乾隆皇帝最後一次下江南…

The storyline:

During the Qing dynasty, 乾隆 - 爱新觉罗·弘历 Qian Long sent his second son, Yong Cheng to go to visit the border nation.

Yong Cheng, the second son of Qian Long was asked to visit the border nation - the first sight of trouble for Yong Cheng - Yong Cheng casted by Chen Shao Xiang - dressed in red clothing

Han soldier informed their king that Yong Cheng had arrived. The lady in white is Han only daughter, Ah Chun. Ah Chun is casted by Sun Si Wen.

The emperor of the border nation was a guy surname, Han. Han emperor had a daughter named Han Ah-Chun. In order to save Han nation, Han emperor asked his daughter to marry Yong Cheng as his concubine (妃嬪). Ah Chun agreed reluctantly as she being the only daughter of Han emperor was spolit from tender age.

Han emperor (The one is green) Begged his own daughter to marry Yong Cheng to save his nation

Ah Chun performing a dance to entertain Yong Cheng.

There is a Powerpoint slide showing the word of the songs that the cast were singing. Here the words are showing Ah Chun feeling toward the dance

Yong Cheng had a wife named Liu JinRu (刘静如) whom had born the Qing family a son. When Yong Cheng went home with Ah Chun, Jingru was furious initally. But Kind by heart, jingru forgave yongcheng.

Yong Cheng explaining to Jingru his difficulties as he had to take Ah Chun as his wife

The words that Yong Cheng singing to JingRu. It said that he is explaining to his wife how he had to accept the Han daugher with little choice.

However Ah Chun had no respect for jingru and even tried to murder jingru. Fortunatly, Yong Cheng came back and stopped Ah Chun.

Yong Cheng took Ah chun to see his father, QianLong. When Qianlong learnt that Ah Chun tried to kill her older sister(jingru), he was angry and asked Ah Chun to lift her head to look at him. Qing Long loved Ah Chun at first sight and that was the beginning of trouble for Yong Cheng and his wife.

Yong Cheng took Ah Chun to see his father, Qianlong

Qian long then asked Yong Cheng to bring Ah Chun to Empress Dowager for decision of how to deal with Ah Chun. Empress Dowager upon seeing Ah Chun beauty requested her to live in harmony with JingRu. Empress Dowager then asked YongCheng to bring his newborn son to 三寶佛寺 to tattoo the dragon on the chest of the baby boy. This is a indication that the child was a son of the imperial family. At the temple, the whole imperial family were there - Empress Dowager , Qianlong, his first son, cheng, yong cheng, jingru and Ah Chun. While Empress Dowager was taboo the baby boy whom now had a offical name known as 爱新觉罗龍孫, Ah Chun and Qianlong left the room quietly. Cheng and YongCheng upon seeing this found it strange and follow them into the temple's garden. Ah Chun declared her love for Qian long. The wrong was done - grandfather taking over his own son's wife. They declared their love for each other in the garden. Yong cheng found them in the garden and cannot take the blow, vommitting blood on the spot. Yongcheng left in disgrace. Cheng found out his father wrong deed but when qianlong appeared with Ah Chun, Cheng was warned not to mention anything.

Back in the palace with Ah Chun, Qianlong declared Ah Chun as his new concubine. Ah Chun asked Qianlong to kill YongCheng whole family as she said that if yongcheng saw her as the new concubine, what must he call her - mum or wife? Qianlong initally have hestiated as he told Ah Chun that Yongcheng was his own son. However Ah Chun informed that she can only gave Qianlong sons. Qianlong agreed and sent his officer, He Kun to surround YongCheng whole family. Qianlong and Ah Chun then visit YongCheng whom was very ill due to the heavy blow he received when he found about the incest of his own father and his wife.

Ah Chun encourage Qianlong to kill Yong Cheng whole family

Qianlong gave Yongcheng a sword, hinting yongcheng to end his own life. Qianlong then hugged Ah Chun saying that he will not waste time talking to dead people. When Qianlong left, yongcheng told jingru to leave the house with longsun. Jingru and Longsun left the house in tears. Yongcheng then killed with the sword. When HeKun arrived, he found Yongcheng had died but jingru and longsun were both missing. Hekun informed Qianlong but Ah Chun demanded that all people whom knew about their relationship must be killed as they may revealed this incest deed to the qing citizens. So Hekun gave chase. When the first son of qianlong, Cheng knew about this, he left the palace to try to save jingru and her son.

Jingru ran to the temple and informed the head monk of her own misfortunate. The monk asked jingru to stay at his temple. Hekun arrived and knocked open the temple door. Hekun stabbed jingru. Cheng arrived and managed to stop hekun from killing longsun. Cheng slapped Hekun and chased him away. Dying, jingru asked cheng to take care of her son before she died. The monk promised cheng to take care of longsun and asked cheng to return to the palace. The monk decided to bring longsun to jingshan temple.

7 years later, Longsun and a group of children played but the children laughed at longshun for having a monk as his father. Upset, longsun fought and his monk father managed to stop the fight. The monk informed longsun of his true identifty. Just then, there was public announcement that the emperor, qianlong was in street. The monk took longsun wishing for his grandfather to acknowledge his own grandson. Hekun stopped them and qianlong ordered both to be taken away.

In the street, Qianlong met His grandson, Longsun and the old monk

In the court, Longsun announced to Hekun that his real name was 爱新觉罗龍孫. 爱新觉罗 was a imperial name that only the loyal family had so hekun ordered his guy to slap longsun for telling lies. Cheng arrived at the court and stopped Hekun to investiage this case. Cheng ordered Hekun to step down and he himself will investigate if longsun was the grandson of qianlong. Cheng asked longsun to strip as the child should have a dragon tattoo on his chest. Longsun did have the tattoo of a dragon but hekun declared that anyone could have tatto on his own chest.

Just then, qianlong and ah chun arrived.

Qian long and Ah Chun arrived at the court hearing

Under ah chun influence, qianlong wanted to silence longsun and the monk. Qianlong qustioned the monk whom insisted that longsun was his grandson. Hekun tortured the monk by using a item to clip on his fingers. The monk fainted and longsun decided that he would not want to have anything to do with qianlong. The monk woke up and scolded qianlong and announced that he will told the world of the emperor deed. The angry qianlong ordered his guards to beat the old monk to death. Longsun upon seeing his monk father dead, told qianlong that he will also informed the world that his grandfather had sleep with his aunt(Ah Chun).

Qianlong took a sword and tried to stab longsun. Just then, the spirt of Yongcheng and Jingru appeared. They reminded qianlong not to do a wrong deed again. Qianlong asked Ah Chun if she had seen the spirit of cheng and jingru. Ah Chun kept inisted qianlong to kill longsu and in the end, she herself was killed by Qianlong. Qianlong then realised his own wrong and woke up.

He acknowleged longsun as his grandson and announced cheng to be the new emperor.

Qianlong let his first son become the new emperor

Goodbye time

Day 3 - Ming hua yuan - 17/7/09呂洞賓(二鬥-斜頭風)

Jennifer say:

Today performance was very good. I loved the story plot very much.

The storyline was as follow:

Lu Dongbin, the head of 8 immoral received instuction from Jade Eemperor to go to moral world to do good deed.

Meanwhile in the moral world, wu was a rascal whom do nothing all days but create trouble. He loved a lady from the chow family, named chow yuxian.

The chow family, head, chow wenhao was a very nice person whom often do good deeds. However, Wenhao had a son, chow xiaolui( whom was very ill at a young age with illness commonly known as 斜頭風. The chow tried all means but cannot cure their son.

Chow Wenhao and his wife are both kind hearted by nature and had done many good deeds for their town poor

In the street, Chow Yuxian was out to buy herb for xiaolui when she meet wu. Wu tried to force yuxian to become his wife. Yuxian ran and met their local servant, shuangyi. Shuangyi saved Yuxian. Yuxian then expresed her love for yi

Wu(The guy in centre position) tried to force Yuxian to become his wife


Yi, the Chow servant was also in the street and managed to save Yuxian. Yi is casted by MingHuaYuan Xiao Sheng, Chen Shao Xiang.

Meanwhile, Lu dongbin heard about wenhao good deed. Dongbin decided to test Wenhao by disguisting as a begger. Wenhao and Yi was out in street issuing free food for the poor.

At the street, Chow instructed Yi to issue free rice for the poor

When the begger whom was dongbin arrived, yi informed the begger that food were all issued out. Wenhao on hearing that the begger had not eaten for 3 days invited the begger to his house for free food. In his house, the begger tested Wenhao patience by commeting that the food was not good enough. Wenhao gave the begger money and asked the begger to buy himself food that he liked.

The begger whom was Dongbin in disguise tested Wenhao

The begger then revealed that actually he was a immoral in disguise, he asked the chow family to guess his real identity. Yuxian guessed that the begger was "Zhu ba jie - piggy", Wenhao wife guessed he was "Da Mo". The begger then gave a hint by using his necklace to create a '8', saying that this was his surname. Clever yi guess the word to be lu as there was two 'mouth'. and yi guess the begger was Lu DongBin.

Lu DongBin(The one wearing orange clothing) revealed his true look and Wenhao and his family were very happy to see an immoral

Wenhao then requested Dongbin to cure his son, xiaolui. Dongbin upon seeing xiaolui relised that he was processed by a spirit. Dongbin requested the spirit to show the real identity. The female ghost appeared and revealed that she was in chow's son for revenge because of three generation's bad deed. The female ghost then revealed how the past 3 generation had murdered her. The first generation chow was a pirate whom murdered her husband and her. The second generation was a cruel magistrate whom take upon seeing the woman's beauty wanted to have her as his wife. The woman rejected him whom later murdered her. The third generation, chow was a loanshark. The woman known as Lin Yueqiu was a poor farmer. Her dad borrowed money from chow whom demanded a higher rate of money in return. When the dad cannot paid, chow asked the dad to give him his daughter. Chow's guy forced yueqiu to come with him. When the dad tried to save her daughter, chow stabbed him and killed him. Yueqiu upon seeing this scene, knocked her head on the wall and died.

Dongbin then informed yueqiu that she could come to claim xiaolui life on the seven day. Dongbin informd Wenhao that the ghost would come on the 7 day. Yi then scolded Dongbin that only jigong can save his master and dongbin was very heartless. Dongbing then left in fury. Yi informed Wenhao that only Jigong can save the young master. Yi left the house to look for Jigong.

Outside the street, a begger wanted Yi to give him more money. When yi pushed the begger, the begger knocked against a stone and fall and died. Evil Wu saw and informed the magistrate whom said that only if the begger had family to sue, he will arrested Yi. Wu informed the mastistare that the begger was his long lost uncle. Jigong appeared suddenly and returend teh begger to life. The magistrate then instructed the begger to return to Wu House as wu claimed he was his uncle. Jigong helped teh poor begger to look for a rich relative to live his after life.

Yi thanked jigong for help but did not known Jigong was the man he was looking for. Meanwhile Dongbin want to Jigong temple and asked the greedy monk to give jigong dog meat and wine for 3 days. Jigong arrived at his temple. When Yi arrived 3 days later, he realised the man he saw on the street was Jigong. Yi asked jigong to save his master. Jigong said that only Yi himself can saved his young master. Jigong gave Yi his own clothing and asked Yi to wear. Yi wore the clothing and left the temple.

Arriving at Chow house, Yueqiu had already wanted to claim xiaolui life when Yi arrived. Yueqiu thought that yi was jigong and left. Jigong arrived and went to find yueqiu. Jigong asked Yueqiu to go for her afterlife and promised to help Yueqiu be reborn. Yueqiu then agreed. Jigong then cured Xiaolui of his illness.

Dongbin upon hearing that xiaolui was cured was furious. He fought with Jigong. Both fought in heaven when the heavenly soldiers also hide from them. They fought in hell where the 10 lords were also beaten.

The chow family were in happy ending. Yi married Yuxian and Yi become a court officer. Chow family live in peace even after.

Yi and Yuxian marriage

Yi become a court officer and married Yixian

Happy Ending

The Whole cast giving audience a final bow for attending this performance.

大道公法鬥媽祖婆 - second day 11.07.2009

Jennifer say:

Today performance was rather disappointing as i had expected a good storyline. Almost sleep esp toward the ending where the two characters were busily fighting. I had expected a more happlier ending instead of pure fighting with no ending.

大道公法鬥媽祖婆

混沌生陰陽，陰陽化乾坤，乾坤成男女，話說三十三天之外，至尊－玉皇大帝與西昆侖無極太上－王母乃為夫妻，一年一會在夫妻同游四大部洲之時，竟為男為尊、女為重之議題爭吵，一怒之下改成三千年一會，故稱－蟠桃會。
但為將男女區別，玉皇大帝將寶物－九龍玉佩，轉化成泉州百石村－吳本字華基(大道公)，王母娘娘將其－七彩寶珠，降凡成湄洲－林默娘(媽祖婆)，亦分高下，神農大帝為求和平，下凡當起月老牽線，應成兩人姻緣，但人算豈能勝天算，在玉皇和王母阻止之下，大道公三會媽祖婆…是否有緣無份？

Jade emperor and empress two jewels were given to two moral, 七彩寶珠 Jade Empress jewel were given to Lin family daugher and 九龍玉佩 with Jade Emperor jewel were given to Wu family. Wu’s son was born on 15 march while lin daughter was born 23 march. Jade emperor send his guy,Y down to earth to connect the two family together. The lin daughter, lin moniang did not cried at her birth. Y hinted to lin dad that if he can find his 5th daughter a husband, she will be able to cry and speak. Y told the lin to find someone in a certain town whom was born on 15 of march. Soon Wu dad came to Lin family. He wanted to find his son a bride. Lin dad sent all his 4 eldest daughter, the 4th daughter was only 2-3 years old but Wu rejected all the oldest daughters. Lin then show lin moniang to wu whom proclaimed the daughter to be a good candidate as his daughter-in-law.

Lim eldest daughter

The Lims daughters, the 4th daughter is the child in the photo whom is only like 2-3 years old.

Moniang and Wu grow up soon. Moniang had a teacher that daughter her magical power. Wu was grown to have good medical skills. In order to see her future husband, moniang sent to a letter to Wu. Wu went to moniang house. Wu asked lin dad to give a red thread to moniang. In order to test Wu, moniang tied the thread to first her eldest sister, her hair pin and her own dad, wu are able to predict correctly all three. when moniang tie to her own finger, wu informed moniang that she was not ill. wu and moniang agreed to marry at a date.

Later Moniang saved a peocock spirit from a tiger spirit. The peacock and Moniang become sister. Wu also save the tiger spirit toothache problem whom the tiger spirit was very grateful to Wu.

The grown up 5 daughter,Moniang the one wearing yellow clothing. The peacock spirt was also staying with the Liim family. The woman is also the lead actress, sun si wen.

Meanwhile, jade emperor and empress fighted because both were debating whether man or woman are more capable. As a result, both agreed to give two magical item to two moral, a male and a female. Male was born on 15 of march while female was born on 23 march. Jade emperor and empress will allow the two moral to fight to determine the winner. The angry emperor then announced that their annual peach eating session would be eaten only 3000 years a time.

Jade Emperor and Empress debating whether woman or man are more capable

Because of their dispute, the Peace Eating was delayed to be hosted only once every 3000 years

When jade empress knew that lin and wu were about to marry, she decided to stop the marriage. The empress dressed as a moral and find lin, hinting about how marriage was not good. lin belived her word and decided to run away.

Wu went to find lin and a fight occured with the tiger and peacock sprits helping their own master. In the end, wu wins.

明华园天字歌仔戏

Jennifer say:




Tonight was my first night watching minghuayuan. I quite enjoyed the performance. quite surprised that there do not have any clown role today but nevertheless, it was a excellent performance. 陳昭香 as zhou is very good as xiaosheng, she had quite a powerful voice. 孙诗雯 as princess wenling is also very good but somehow, does not leave any deep impression on me, her voice is equally good.

The below poster is from this website- http://blog.xuite.net/hsianghsiang/mhytian?st=c&p=1&w=1488461

The first performance fenghuangtaizhu 鳳凰珠胎 is on tuesday, 7/7/09 but i did not get to watch. in fact, i only watched on fri and sats only.


万古流芳 - 10/7/09

Today performance is quite interesting. storyline happen in a palace.

Zhou married emperor sister, wenling. wenling was pregant with zhou kid. meanwhile zhou servant, bao ahd wenling maid whom had married each other also had a child due to be born. zhou and his family are all loyal subject of the tang emperor. on zhou's dad birthday, evil minister, jia send the dad incense papar and 2 candles at zhou doorstep. jia refused to enter the house and asked the servant to inform zhou. When zhou servants informed zhou, zhou was furious and asked his servant to hit jia away. Zhou servant hit jia away.

Tang emperor had a strange dream about a stone saying 万古流芳. The emperor asked jia to help him to solve the mystery of his dream. jia ask the emperor to give a 圣旨 to ask zhou to help to solve the mystery of his dream. evil jia went to find zhou. at the doorstep, zhou servant recognized jia as the previous guest whom tried to create trouble and was beat away. the servant informed zhou and under zhou instruction, jia was beat again. before jia left, jia laughted aloud and warned the zhou they had fallen into a trick.

When jia left, the servant immediately informed zhou. zhou and his family knew that they had fallen into a evil plot that would killed the whole family. Princess wenling upon hearing this, said that she will entered the palace to inform her brother emperor about the plot. wenling left with zhou two servant, bao and old su.

True to zhou word, evil jia informed emperor that zhou and family refused to recive the sengzhi and chased him out. emperor was very angry and ordered jia to take a army to capture the zhou family. shortly after wenling left, jia arrived with the army. zhou tried to fight back but was hold back by his dad. evil jia captured the zhou family and killed the whole family on the spot.

meanwhile, bao informed wenling that the zhou family had been wiped out. jia was looking for the princess and her unborn child. wenling shortly gave birth to a son in su house.old su though of a plot that required a newborn baby.bao asked his wife that was formly wenling maid to bring their son to su. su told bao that in order to save the princess and zhou only offspring, boa had to let his son died in replace of wenling son. the plot was su wife would need to die and bao will bring his own son to jia claiming that the son was that of princess wenling. wenling refused the plot but bao and su insisted princess that she must live.su begged wenling to take care of his own son, chengzai. so su set fire on his own house killing his wife. this is to make jia believe that wenling had died in the fire. bao carried his son to jia whom murdered the newborn by throwing the child on the ground. jia also killed su when su cried that his son master had died.

12 years later, 武子 son of wenling was in the jungle looking for tiger. a young guy was about to be killed by the tiger when wuzhi saved him. the young guy was in fact the son of emperor. to thank wuzhi, the young prince agreed to be with blood brother with wuzhi. the young prince also informed wuzhi his true identify and informed wuzhi that when the old emperor died, the prince will take over the throne.the young prince gave wuzhi his own fan. soon, wuzhi recieved news that the old emperor had died and the new emperor was in the street to introduce his own subjects that he was now the new dragon. wuzhi stopped the new emperor. jia tried to stop wuzhi. after some agruement, the angry new emperor gave wuzhi a sword and gave wuzhi a offical role. when wuzhi returned home, wenling was stocked. bao then told wuzhi his true background. a anger wuzhi went to find jia. now jia was actually plotting with the enemy before wuzhi came. jia guy was supposed to come out when jia shouted'大胆'. Whose know when wuzhi came, jia acidentally shouted the word and the guy came out. wuzhi and chengzai killed the guy and grabbed the revolt letter. wuzhi then killed jia. Wuzhi went to find the emperor and told him everything. upon knowing that his aunt was still alive, the emperor went to find his aunt and gave his aunt new clothes. bao wife upon seeing that the wuzhi had seek revenge, she killed herself as she was still unable to accept that her son had died 12 years ago. her husband also killed himself. When wenling whom had changed into new clothes and the emperor came out of the house, they found the couple bodies. the emperor build a stone tablet to let his subjects know about what the two couple done to save the lives of wenling and wuzhi.

details from this website in chinese;;

萬 古 流 芳（原趙氏孤兒）

相爺杜欒賈與趙頓父子，忠奸不合，適逢趙頓王爺壽長，皇上命百官前去賀壽，杜欒賈相爺百般不願，但聖命難違，故在壽宴上百般刁難而遭郡馬－趙束命人毆打，杜欒賈懷恨在心。

皇上夜夢，魁星下凡，命百官解夢，杜欒賈解釋，需建魁星廟，極力推薦趙家父子，擔任重職，並請命宣讀聖旨，但卻封鎖消息，致使再與趙束郡馬起衝突。回宮奏明趙氏父子欺君罔上，皇上命杜欒賈為欽差抓拿詢問。杜欒賈改稱趙氏抗旨，將其滅九族。忠僕－程嬰以其子代死，換趙氏遺孤，含辛茹苦養育十六年。

十六年後，太子遊山玩水，遇猛虎命危，趙武子救駕，並與太子結義。在趙武子得知結義兄弟已榮登皇帝，即進宮面聖，受封親王，而此時趙武子亦得知其家仇血恨，怒而持劍斬殺杜欒賈……