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[My Other Sites] Updated 2002-07-31
PHOTO / VIDEO PORTFOLIO: CHINA
Beijing OperaGhaffar Pourazar, an Iranian-born, British-raised former computer animator, turned Chinese (Beijing) Opera performer. This artform (struggling against obscurity) is a mix of singing, acting, acrobatics, martial arts, and pageantry. It is almost exclusively performed by Chinese; normally starting training at a very early age. Not so for the roughly middle-aged Ghaffar, who found success through hard work under the guidance of elder masters. Ghaffar treated us to a revealing recreation of his daily routine during years of training in China. This was followed by a costume and make-up demonstration and some fun-and-games with volunteers from the audience. This transformation culminated in the staging of a scene featuring one of the characters in his repertoire, the famous Monkey King. These photos and video stills are from the performance at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education in Harvard Square. Ghaffar was invited as a special guest by Eric Bornstein of the Behind the Mask Theatre. 2001-01-12 |
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Mask and Puppet Theater
With the guidance of Ghaffar Pourazar (see above) and leadership of Eric Bornstein, the Behind the Mask Theatre has created and performed their version of the famous Monkey King episodes excerpted from China's Beijing Opera: "Monkey King Tales."
This adaptation is a short tribute to the many art forms that is Chinese Opera: music, song, stylized dance and posture, facial expression, martial arts, and mysitcal stories of the Immortals of heaven.
Behind the Mask's version is a fusion of sorts, with the addition of traditional-style shadow puppetry not found in the Chinese stage performances. This troupe, true to form, portrays all the characters in masks that mimic the traditional face-paint makeup of Chinese opera.
The musical accompaniment of Frank Gerace's contemporary instrumentation, along with percussionist, singer and harp player Deborah Coconis, provides a similarly inspired stylistic adaptation.
These photos and video stills are from the dress rehearsal at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education in Harvard Square. 2001-02-20.
Click this image to view a QuickTime™ Montage from this performance!
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