Lost gem resurrected

Peking Opera master Ma Yuqi will never forget the production of Mei Yu Pei he saw in 1958. It has long been his dream to return the classic to the stage, and now he has found the perfect place. Chen Nan reports.

Ma Yuqi will never forget the moment in 1958, when as a student at the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts he watched the classic Peking Opera Mei Yu Pei for the first time. Originally a Kunqu Opera, it was adapted into Peking Opera and had been performed since the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The exquisite costumes, accessories and interesting story deeply impressed Ma. However, it was to be the last time Mei Yu Pei was performed for many years, as the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) was soon to sweep through the country.

The opera was reproduced in the 1980s by Peking Opera troupes from Tianjin and Taiwan. However, the productions were lackluster and feedback was poor.