National Ballet of China, The Peony Pavilion

  • Because of its traditional and dramatic storyline, it was a thrilling yet beautiful end to the night, not to mention a sigh of relief after its contemporary predecessor.
  •  Music:
    • dark and heavy when set in the Underworld, but lighter and more pleasing to the ear in the mortal world
      • This reflects the contrast in themes between the Underworld and the mortal world.
    • Main indicator for climatic events: the ruler of the Underworld permitting the heroine to return to the mortal and reunite with her lover
  • Interaction/Expression:
    • Between the heroine and ghosts/the ruler of the Underworld
      • Ruler attempted to stop her, cut off her path
      • Urgency and despair is reflected in the heroine’s actions
    • Between the heroine and her mortal lover
      • The hero mourning for his deceased lover
      • The moment the hero “sees” the heroine: conflicting emotions of surprise, grief, and happiness
      • When they embrace each other, the longing they both felt
  • Costumes/Props:
    • More use than the preceding performances
    • Color of costumes acts as distinguishing factor of dead vs. living
      • Black and white for ghosts and color for mortals
      • Furthermore, red for luck and good (wedding act)
    • Designs of gowns
    • The hero’s simple, oatmeal-colored gown seems to be a sleep gown and his blue, more elaborate one should be his outside apparel
  • Use of stage:
    • Dancers fill the stage during each act (with the exception of the two lovers’ reunion)
    • Always in action, never stationary