PRODUCTION King Lear [Lier zai ci]
Data Type:production background
Title:Act by Act Summary of CLT's King Lear
Source:King Lear Premiere Program
Place:Taipei
Publisher:Contemporary Legend Theatre [Dangdai chuanqi juchang]
Date:2001/7
Language:English
Abstract:description of the three scenes
 Act I: The Play
King Lear is running and shouting in the storm, all his past is approaching his unstable mind. Chaos is disturbing and eating his aged as well as disgrace body and soul.

Following the unique performing style of the grate Peking Opera master and combing the movement of dance and the rhythm of the modern theatre. The Play is presented in a pathetic and moving way.

Act II: Playing
Suddenly, King Lear has become the Fool and someone else in Play[ing].

If the Play is a tragedy, then the Play[ing] is a comedy. The Play is present the pathetic style of “Old Gentlemen” in Peking Opera, and Play[ing] is presenting in the cynical way of playing of “Clown” in Peking Opera. Comparing to the The Play’s passionate high-key singing and movement, the solo performer of Play[ing] has to change to different characters in a second. Hsing-Kuo Wu will portray ten characters in Play[ing], almost all the most dramatic and active roles are included.

Act III: A Player
King Lear is summoned from the remote place and appears like a ghost. He tells us the rising and disappearing of our lives in a ritual way His elegant Peking Opera singing and movement present the shifting essence of life and reflects the lost of his past with ars.

Life has now turned into the very start. Play, is only a way of searching for the essential quality of the mankind.