Traditional opera wins fresh accolades

The Chinese Theater Association recently announced the nominees for the 2023 Chinese short opera and short play awards.

Among the chosen works was Rooster Celebrating Birthday, a modern Erjiaxian Opera produced in the Dingtao district of Heze city – located in East China's Shandong province.

An eye-catching scene from Rooster Celebrating Birthday, a modern Erjiaxian Opera. The Erjiaxian Opera is a traditional opera form that is popular in western Shandong, eastern and northern Henan, northern Jiangsu and in northern Anhui province. [Photo by Li Bao for chinadaily.com.cn]

The story centers around Tie Zhaoli, a stingy village headman who decides to throw a birthday banquet for a small rooster. Two villagers, Youtiaoli and Hongshanzha, are invited to present their gifts, but they soon become suspicious and engage in a frenzied competition with each other.

When they discover that the birthday banquet is actually for a rooster, they are furious and decide to expose the village headman's deceit by reporting him to the township.

It's eventually revealed that they had been squandering money on false pretenses. Realizing their own fault, they are determined to change their ways.

The play aims to challenge outdated social norms and promote progressive practices and trends. It has been performed in various provinces across China and has received acclaim and awards at numerous cultural festivals and competitions.

In addition, the work will be staged in Xi'an city, in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, from the end of August to early September. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)