ChinaDaily[971111-8]

[Chinese News]

China Daily

97 / 11 / 11 /

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1. Old opera features new elements
2. What's on (Page 9, Date: 11/11/97)
3. Notes (Page 9, Date: 11/11/97)
4. More shows to salute industrial progress
5. An array of power tech and devices
6. Investors invited to presentation
7. [INLINE]
8. [INLINE] __
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Old opera features new elements
THE overpacked theatre, the ticketless people trying to get in by
whatever means, the curtain calls and ovations all attest to the
success of the Sichuan Opera play "Face Changing."
The opera tells the tale of the weal and woe of an itinerant
entertainer and was staged during the Fifth China Art Festival
held from October 25 to November 5 in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan
Province.
Face changing action has almost become an operatic totem of
Sichuan Opera, at least to the audiences outside Sichuan Province.
In a split second, the actor's face, amid strong and rhythmic
beating of drums and gongs, changes from a fierce-looking man into
a smiling boy.
The next second it changes into a demon,then into a benign goddess
and so on. The action really holds the audience spell bound and is
regarded as Sichuan Opera's "unique skill."
But skill is skill, no more. Why not organize a story revolving
around face changing and the entertainer who possesses the skill?
Playwright Wei Minglun, who is widely regarded as "the uncanny
talent from Sichuan," came up with the screen play "Face
Changing," which was made into a successful film a couple of years
ago.
Now Wei, who is a Sichuan Opera playwright to begin with, has
adapted the screen play into the Sichuan Opera play, which is
produced on stage by the Provincial Sichuan Opera Troupe.
The story is set in the late 1910s or early 1920s in the region
along the Yangtze River. The itinerant entertainer Shui Shangpiao
(literally, flowing along the river) sells his art of face
changing to the audience to make a living wherever he goes on his
lonely boat. His masterful face-changing action unfailingly draws
passionate applause and cheers from the audience. Having no family
and only the dilapidated boat as his home, Shui wants very much a
son to pass down his face-changing art to and enjoy family
life with. But he would never accept a girl as the successor to
his unique art because he believes in the old idea of male
supremacy. What he wants is the one "with teapot spout," he says.
As fate would have it, he buys a 10-year-old "boy" from a
human-being trader who ensures him that the young person indeed
has a "teapot spout."
The "boy" Gou Wa (literally doggy or dog boy), who is now Shui
Shangpiao's grandson, is clever, considerate and understanding.
The old man congratulates himself that he has got an endearing
grandson and a young man to whom he can pass down his unique art.
The once lonely boat is now brimming with the heart-warming
atmosphere of domesticity.
But Gou Wa eventually turns out to be a girl in the guise of a
boy. Shui Shangpiao, torn between his profound love for the
"grandson" and his deep-rooted prejudice against women, finally
makes the painful decision to drive Gou Wa from his boat home. Gou
Wa pleads desperately to the "grandpa" to keep her. She falls into
the river and is about to drown when the old man comes to her
rescue. The two reunite, but not as grandpa and grandson but as
the master and girl apprentice.
The human-being traders now kidnap a three-year-old boy from a
well-to-do family and ask for a huge ransom. By accident, Gou Wa
burns up the face-changing masks of her master and runs away for
fear of possible punishment. She once again falls into the hands
of the traders. They lock her in the room where the little boy is
kept, but the children manage to escape.
Thinking that her grandpa desperately wants a boy to inherit the
unique face-changing art and also to carry on the family lineage,
Gou Wa puts the boy in the old man's way in the hope he would pick
him up. He does and is overjoyed to find that the little creature
indeed has a "teapot spout." Seeing this from a distance, Gou Wa
bids a tearful farewell to her grandpa and master, waving silently
and sobbing happily and yet sadly.
The police find the whereabouts of the kidnapped boy and send him
back to his family after the kidnappers milk a lot of money from
the mother. Shui Shangpiao is arrested, charged with kidnapping
and is going to be shot.
Gou Wa suspends herself from a cliff and threatens to crash to her
death if she cannot save the life of her grandpa. She means it.
Her act moves the muddle-headed warlord, who is also a Sichuan
Opera fan, and he intervenes. Shui Shangpiao was saved, from the
firing squad but not from death.
The ups and downs and the twists and turns of the fate of the
characters with the unfolding of the plot reveal every side and
nook of the personalities. Or in other words, the play shows how
people change their faces in real life. This makes the story take
on a philosophical aspect in terms of person-to-person
relationships and therefore renders the play more profound than
mere skills in face changing.
The production of the play is geared to "being new" in every way.
As a result, a series of acting and production techniques have
been borrowed from movie, television plays and so on. Stage
lighting effects are exploited to the full. The stage setting is
very simple. By alternating the lights on stage, changes in time
and space are achieved. In this way, the traditional chronicle or
linear arrangement of events and characters' appearance on the
stage is discarded and the tempo of the plot is quickened. This
may accommodate the tastes of young people today, who often shy
away from Peking Opera, Sichuan Opera and all other local operas.
This is a result of the hectic pace of life and many entertainment
and sports distractions such as karaoke, disco, football, mahjong,
video games, talking leisurely over the steaming hot pot and so
on.
Besides, the characters make their appearance through the aisles
in the theatre or just in the classic way according to the plot.
It is the same with their exit. In this way, the audience is more
closely linked to the plot and the fate of the characters.
A kind of short catwalk protrudes from the stage towards the
audience. The scenes of extremely passionate love, hate, pain,
sorrow and happiness are staged here with the spotlight glued to
the performers. These scenes are reminiscent of close-ups in
movies.
New elements are introduced in singing, dancing and performing.
All this has helped distance the play from the traditional Sichuan
Opera and give people a feeling of being new.
But some are worried that this kind of innovation and upgrading
might turn the loyal audiences of traditional Sichuan Opera away
while the young people are attracted to the opera temporarily.
When the novelty wears off and the dust has settled, the young
would walk away and not return until a new sensation is created.
In the mean time, the traditional theatre-goers, who are addicted
to old romances and faithful to their stars, would feel snubbed
and just won't go for "new" plays. In that case, would the opera
fall between the cracks.?
"No," answers Chen Guofu, a theatre critic, "If Sichuan Opera
people can keep coming up with new plays or shorten the intervals
between good new plays, they will be able to create an audience of
new Sichuan Opera fans. Everything depends on your effort."
Wei Minglun, the author of the play, has created a considerable
impact in the country's dramatic circles with a number of Sichuan
Opera plays, among which are "the Scholar from Bashan Mountains,"
"Twilight over the Qishan Mountains" and "Pan Jinlian." Now, he is
working on a scenario based on the drama "the Good Person of
Sichuan" by Bertolt Brecht who set his plays in far-away lands for
alienation effects.His audience was prevented from identifying
themselves with the characters and could therefore thi
nk critically about what was taking place.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 11/11/97_
_Author: Chuan Ju_
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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What's on (Page 9, Date: 11/11/97)
EVENTS
Flower show -- For flower lovers, autumn is the best season for
appreciating the chrysanthemum. Zhongshan Park will offer the
chance.
The Tanghuawu Hall of Zhongshan Park is to give a chrysanthemum
exhibition.
All the flowers, bred home and abroad are nurtured by the park.
There are about 200 kinds chrysanthemums in more than 3,000 pots
during the display.
Time: 9 pm -- 5 am, until November 30.
Place: Zhongshan Park, west of Tian'anmen Rostrum, Dongcheng
District.
Dance festival -- To give ordinary Chinese a chance to show their
dancing talent, the JVC International Ballroom and Latin American
Dance Festival '97 is to be held from November 28 in Beijing,
Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou.
The festival will feature a series of international ballroom and
Latin American dance competitions. All competitions will be aired
on TV in the four cities.
Any adult can sign up for the competition before November 20 at
the cultural centres of Xicheng, Chongwen and Haidian districts.
Tel: 010-6254-3684.
Beijing folk art week -- The 1997 Beijing International Folk Art
Week will be held in front of the CCTV Tower.
Folk artists from China, Brazil, the Netherlands, Russia, Mexico
and Southeast Asian countries will perform. Handicraft articles
including clay figurines, kites, Peking Opera masks, and paper
cuttings are also on display. The activity is organized by the
Beijing Omeili Advertising Art Centre.
Time: 9 am-9 pm, November 21-26.
Place: 11 Xisanhuan Zhonglu, Haidian District.
Tel: 6846-1170, 6204-7788 ext 9290.
BALLET
Ballet from Italy -- Aterballetto, a world-renowned dancing troupe
from Italy, will present a modern ballet night in Beijing.
Aterballetto is Italy's only permanent and most excellent dancing
troupe. Set up in 1979, Aterballetto has built an international
reputation.
This time, Aterballetto is in China to take part in the Italian
week sponsored by Chinese and Italian governments, More than 200
Italian top companies will flock to Beijing.
Time: 7:30 pm, November 27.
Place: Beijing Century Theatre, Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District.
Tel: 6405-5512, 6405-5509, 6407-3532.
DRAMA
Sartre tragedy -- The Central Experimental Modern Drama Theatre
will perform "Death without Burial" by Jean Paul Sartre in
Chinese.
Sartre (1905-80) was a French novelist, playwright, and exponent
of Existentialism. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature
in 1964, but declined it.
"Death without Burial" raises questions about the value of human
life, human dignity and significance of death.
The play portrays a group of French Resistance fighters struggling
in jail with the French traitorous government during the World War
II.
Zha Mingzhe directs the cast includes Feng Xianzhen and Han
Tongsheng.
Time: 7:15 pm, until November 30 except Monday.
Place: The Central Experimental Drama Theatre, A45 Mao'er Hutong,
Dongocheng District.
Tel: 6403-1099.
EXHIBITIONS
Decorative arts from Norway -- An exhibition entitled "Gifts of
the Forest, Gifts of the Loom" is running at the exhibition hall
of the China Central Academy of Arts and Design in Beijing.
The exhibition demonstrates the great success Norwegian women
artists have achieved in contemporary wood and textile art since
1970s.
Time: 9am-11:30pm, except Sunday, through November 15.
Place: 34 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
Tel: 6508-2233 ext 2374.
Paintings on old Beijing -- A joint art show featuring Beijing's
old scenes, past customs and folk arts such as hutongs and
old-styled gates is running at Wanfung Art Gallery.
More than 30 oil paintings done by some young artists are on
display.
Time: 9am-4pm, through November 18.
Place: Wanfung Art Gallery, 136 Nanchizi Dajie, Dongcheng
District, Beijing.
Tel: 6523-3320.
Oil painting show -- "Marching Towards the New Century," a joint
exhibition of young Chinese oil painters, will be held at the
China National Art Museum.
Sponsored by the China Oil Painting Society, China Arts Research
Institute and two other departments, the exhibition will display
203 oil paintings selected from 2,500 contributions throughout the
country.
Time: 9 am-4 pm, November 25-December 7.
Place: China National Art Museum, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng
District.
Tel: 6401-2252.
Chinese history -- A display showcasing a new version of the
general history of China is now open in the National Museum of
Chinese History.
More than 5,400 exhibits -- from pottery kitchen utensils, made
more than 10,000 years ago, to the Chinese classics, which have
survived foreign invasions in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) --
are on display.
They reveal the country's past in a more accurate and multifaceted
way than the museum's perennial display, established in 1959.
Time: 8:30 am-5 pm, daily.
Place: National Museum of Chinese History, east of Tian'anmen
Square
Tel: 6526-6604, 6512-8901
ACROBATICS
Acrobatics -- The China Acrobatic Troupe is juggling, cycling and
tumbling every night at Chaoyang Theatre.
The 46-year-old troupe, one of the best in the country, has toured
more than 60 countries and won international competition awards.
The company's repertoire includes tightrope walking, martial arts
and traditional Chinese magic tricks.
Time: 7:15 pm, daily.
Place: Chaoyang Theatre, 36 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 6507-2421.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 11/11/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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Notes (Page 9, Date: 11/11/97)
Rock museuam
A MUSEUM displaying strangely-shaped and textured rocks and stones
opened recently at the foot of the Mutianyu Section of the Great
Wall in Beijing. Strange stones and rocks from across the country
add up to more than 2,000 cubic metres and weigh 4,500 tons in
all. The collection in the museum reflects the Chinese
stone-connoisseur culture.
New encyclopedia
THE 12-volume "Concise Chinese Encyclopedia" has just been
published by the China Encyclopedia Press. The publication is
aimed at enriching the book collections of the ordinary people,
who find it difficult to afford the comprehensive "Chinese
Encyclopedia" published in 1993. To compile the concise edition of
the Chinese Encyclopedia, hundreds of specialists and experts in
various disciplines and fields have been organized. And a lot of
cutting, beefing-up and condensing efforts have been made. The
concise edition is to be revised regularly every one to two years
according to established international practice.
(CD News)
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_Date: 11/11/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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More shows to salute industrial progress
TO keep pace with the rapidly growing woodworking and furniture
industries in China, the 7th International Exhibition on
Woodworking Machinery (WM Fair China '98) and the 7th
International Exhibition on Furniture Manufacturing (Furniture
China '98) are scheduled for the China International Exhibition
Centre in Beijing from March 10 to 14, 1998.
The exhibitions showcase the latest equipment and technology as
well as high quality furniture materials.
WM Fair China '98 and Furniture China '98 are the most established
and largest woodworking and furniture manufacturing show in China.
WM Fair China is the only woodworking exhibition co-organized by
the European Committee of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers
(EUMABOIS) in China, and has been continuously supported by the
Ministry of Forestry -- China International Forestry Corporation
(CIFC), and the China Council of Light Industry -- China National
Furniture Association (CNFA) since 1986.
WM Fair China '98 and Furniture China '98 have received strong
support from a number of overseas trade boards and associations.
Official pavilions are being constructed for Austria, France,
Germany, Italy and Spain. In addition, there will be group
participation from Japan, China's Taiwan Province and the USA.
It is expected that approximately 400 foreign exhibitors are
planning to participate in this biennial event.
The exhibitors, many of which are world-renowned manufacturers,
traders and associations, include American Hardwood Export
Council, Angelo Cremona, Biesse, Casco Nobel, Colombo and Cremona,
Dyno, G. Siempelkamp, Golden Field, Haefele, Hettich, Homag Group,
Jowat, Kvaerner, Northwest Hardwood, Raute, Schenck, SCM, Univic,
Vigoria, Vollmer Werke and Wilhem Altendorf.
Exhibits of WM Fair China '98 and Furniture China '98 include
deforming machinery, equipment for artificial board manufacturing,
equipment for secondary processing, auxiliary and major machines
for woodworking, furniture manufacturing machines, materials for
furniture-making, furniture accessories, lumber and veneer, tools
and chemicals.
Interested parties please contact co-organizer Adsale Exhibition
Services Ltd for further information.
WM Fair China '98 and Furniture China '98 are organized by China
Council for the Promotion of International Trade and China
International Exhibition Centre. They are jointly co-organized by
EUMABOIS and Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.
Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd has been a pioneer and leading
organizer of trade exhibitions in China since 1978. In 1996 alone,
Adsale exhibitions drew a total of 49 official pavilions, 3,855
exhibitors and 1,755,300 visitors.
Every year, Adsale stages 20 to 25 international trade exhibitions
in major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh
City, Hong Kong and Shanghai, covering wine technology, food
technology, printing and packaging, energy and power, woodworking,
metal-working, automobile, aviation, building and construction,
mining, textile and garment, plastics and rubber, travel,
telecommunications, computer, and banking and financial equipment.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 11/11/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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An array of power tech and devices
EP SHANGHAI '97 -- the International Exhibition on Electric Power
and Electrical Engineering is starting today at the Shanghai
Exhibition Centre and continues until November 14.
The power industry is the pillar of China's economic growth.
Although the total amount of electricity generated is growing
rapidly, China is still suffering from a power shortage. China is
aiming to increase its installed power generating capacity to 300
million kilowatts compared to 214 million kilowatts in 1995 under
the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996-2000), and to 550 million kilowatts
by the year 2010.
China's total energy demand accounts for approximately 42 per cent
of the entire Asia-Pacific region. In the next five years, the
Chinese Government is going to invest 700 billion yuan to boost
electrical output.
China's construction boom is likely to increase housing starts by
about 50 per cent to 4.65 billion square metres in the whole
country. Thus, demand on the electrical engineering sector is
anticipating a tremendous stimulation.
EP Shanghai '97 is going to offer an excellent opportunity for
Sino-foreign technological and business co-operation.
Up to 100 world-renowned exhibitors from 16 countries and regions
participate in EP Shanghai '97. They include Ansaldo, Babcock &
Wilcox, Cegelec, Cooper, Elin, F & G, Fuji Electric, GEC Alsthom,
Hitachi, IHI, Kloeckner-Moeller, Landis & Gyr, Legrand,
Mitsubishi, Rolls-Royce, Schneider, Siemens, Toshiba and
Westinghouse.
They occupy a total exhibition area of 6,000 square metres.
Official pavilions from France and the Czech Republic again have
displays at the show.
Advanced equipment and power generation technology, transmission
and distribution, construction and engineering of turn-key
projects, control and testing, low-voltage electrical engineering
and alternative sources of energy will be displayed during the
four-day exhibition.
Ansaldo, Beltec, C & C Technology, GEC Alsthomm, Hitachi, L & C
Steinmueller, Mitsubishi, Siemens, Sindia Instruments, and
Westinghouse are organizing seminars at EP Shanghai '97.
They want to introduce their latest products and technologies as
well as examine the future power generation market in China. This
is regarded as a great opportunity for professionals and users in
the power industry for technological exchange and business
co-operation.
EP Shanghai '97 has gained full support from the Ministry of
Electric Power. It is sponsored by China Electricity Council,
organized by China Electricity Council International and China
International Exhibition Centre and supported by the Chinese
Society of Electrical Engineering, the East China Power Group and
the Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company. The overseas
organizer is Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.
EP Shanghai '97 is held concurrently with Boiler Shanghai '97 -
3rd International Exhibition on Boiler Technology, ETC '97 - 3rd
International Exhibition on Environmental Protection, Pollution
Control and Green Production Technology and Welding Shanghai '97 -
the 3rd International Exhibition on Welding Technology.
EP Shanghai '97 is expected to attract 40,000 visitors from East
China regions and other parts of China.
The EP exhibition continues to be the most authoritative in the
electric power industry and the field of electrical engineering.It
has gained the exclusive sponsorship of the Ministry of Electric
Power and the China Electricity Council since its debut in 1986.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 11/11/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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Investors invited to presentation
SINCE its founding in 1984, Guangzhou Economic and Technological
Development District (GETDD) has introduced overseas investment
extensively and become one of the most successful and powerful
development zones in China.
Gaungzhou used its strategic geographic location and preferential
policies to achieve this success.
Until now, approximately 500 transnational companies and
enterprises involving high-tech, and, high value-added product
manufacturing have set up their offices and plants there.
To further promote foreign investment in the zone, GETDD has
scheduled a Presentation on the Investment Climate at the China
World Hotel in Beijing from 4:00 to 7:30 pm on November 26, 1997.
The event is co-sponsored by the China International Public
Relations Association. The purpose is to present its achievements,
introduce new investment policies, further promote its economic
and technological co-operation, and meet the second wave of
foreign investment in GETDD.
An estimated 250 persons are planning to attend the event from the
commercial section of foreign embassies, the foreign chamber of
commerce, the representative offices of foreign companies, and
relevant departments of the Chinese Government.
Those who are interested in this event are welcome to attend the
presentation.
For more information, please contact us at your earliest
convenience.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 11/11/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

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[INLINE]
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Updated on September 24, 1997

[INLINE]

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_[1]The 15th Party Congress_

_[2]Sep. 12 - Sep.18, 1997_

[INLINE]

[3][LINK] _[4]General Secretary Jiang Zemin's
Report to the 15th Party Congress_
[5][LINK] _[6]New Party Leadership elected,
Top Leaders' Profiles_
[7][LINK] _[8]Communique of 15th CPC Central
Committee's First Plenum_

[INLINE]

Feedback: [9]cd...@chinadaily.net

_Copyright by CBnet ®, China Daily Information_

References

1. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtg124.html
2. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtg124.html
3. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/report.html
4. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/report.html
5. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb46.html
6. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb46.html
7. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb09.html
8. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb09.html
9. mailto:cd...@chinadaily.net

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[1][LINK]

[2][LINK]

[3][LINK]

[4][LINK]

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_Chinese, U.S. Presidents Hold Press Conference _

WASHINGTON, October 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Jiang
Zemin and U.S. President Bill Clinton have agreed that China
and the United States should strengthen cooperation in
building a strategic partnership oriented toward the 21st
century, with a view to promoting world peace and
development.
This was stated by Jiang during a joint press conference by
the two presidents Wednesday.
The two presidents also shared the view of holding regular
visits between the two countries' heads of state,
facilitating a Washington-Beijing presidential communications
link, triggering the mechanism of a regular exchange of
visits by foreign ministers and other cabinet officials, as
well as strengthening cooperation in economic, scientific and
technological, cultural, educational fields and in law
enforcement.
Jiang described his talks with Clinton as "constructive and
fruitful," and believed that his ongoing visit could attain
the goal of enhancing mutual understanding, broadening common
ground, developing cooperation and building the future.
The two presidents also agreed to handle bilateral relations
and differences in line with the principles of mutual
respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs,
equality and mutual benefit, and seeking common ground while
putting aside differences.
Clinton said that Jiang's visit to the United States gave
them the opportunity and the responsibility to build a future
that is more secure, more peaceful, more prosperous for both
peoples.
The two countries share a profound interest in a stable,
prosperous and open Asia, and a strong interest in stopping
the spread of weapons of mass destruction and other
sophisticated weaponry, Clinton said.
He said he agreed to move ahead with the U.S.-China agreement
for cooperation concerning the peaceful use of nuclear
energy.
In both China and the United States, trade has been a
critical catalyst for growth, and China is the fastest
growing market in the world for America's goods and services,
Clinton said. He also said the United States would "do
everything possible to bring China into the World Trade
Organization."
Referring to the Taiwan issue, Jiang said that China wishes
to effect the peaceful reunification of the motherland by
means of implementing Deng Xiaoping's concept of "one
country, two systems."
But China is not committed to giving up the use of force in
this regard, he said, adding that this does not target the
Taiwan compatriots, but direct against the foreign force
interfering in Taiwan affairs and against the scheme that
would attempt to separate Taiwan from China.
On the human rights issue, Jiang said the current world is a
rich and diverse one, and concepts on democracy and human
rights and on freedoms are relative and specific ones.
Therefore, they should be determined by the specific national
situation of different countries.

References

1. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/report.htm
2. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/d1-jiang_j15.htm
3. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/comment.htm
4. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/backgrnd.htm

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