Scenes from The Butterfly's Dream
“A Marriage Proposal and its Response”  
【蝴蝶夢: 說親、回話】

Friday, May 5, 2006, 7:30 pm
Mendelssohn Hall, University of Michigan
911 N. University, Ann Arbor, MI

This program is jointly sponsored by the “Musiking Late Ming China Conference” of the University of Michigan and the Wintergreen Kunqu Society. 

Synopsis

The Butterfly’s Dream is adapted from the story of "Zhuang Zi Tests His Wife’s Loyalty", which takes place at around 370 B.C.  Zhoung Zhou, who is practicing the “Dao” (the “Way to the Truth”), is away from home often and his virtuous wife, Nee Tian, has endured ten years of reclusive life at home while he travels in search of knowledge and wisdom. Though supportive of her husband's pursuit of Taoism, the loneliness has made Tian quite unhappy.

One day, on his way home, Zhoung sees a woman fanning the dirt of a new grave to help it dry more quickly. When asked why, the woman tells Zhoung that she has promised her deceased husband that she would not remarry until after the dirt of his graveyard has dried. Zhoung dries the dirt for the woman with his magic power, but the woman’s story makes Zhoung pessimistic about the ways of the world and his marriage. He decides to put his wife's heart to the test. Upon returning home, Zhoung pretends to fall ill and die, whereupon he transforms his spirit into a handsome young prince who reappears to seduce Tian.

In the first scene, Tian has become very infatuated with the young man. She decides to approach the prince's old servant, who is in fact transformed from a butterfly, to act as matchmaker for a marriage between her and his master. In the second scene, the old butterfly brings her good news that the prince has accepted her marriage proposal. The scene ends with a cheery Tian eagerly preparing for her wedding.
 

Meet the Artists

Liang Guyin is a National Class One performer and a graduate of the Shanghai City Chinese Xiqu School, specializes in the Dan (female) role type and was trained in the style of Zhang Chuanfang and Shen Chuanzhi. She was a recipient of the 3rd Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre, the Star Award at the 1st and 5th Bai Yulan Performing Arts Award for Shanghai Theatre and the Baogang Beaux Arts Award for Performance. She is currently a member of the Chinese Dramatists’ Association and an exco member of the Shanghai Dramatists’ Association.

Liu Yilong is a National Class One performer. He was among the first class of Kunqu actors trained at the Shanghai City Chinese Xiqu School in 1961. He specializes in Chou (comic) and Fu (sly and villainously comic) role types. As a student of the "Chuan" generation of Kunqu performers: Hua Chuanhao, Wang Chuansong and Zhou Chuancang, Liu is a remarkable exponent of the 'comedian art' in Kunqu. He was the winner of the Outstanding Performance Award at the Shanghai Young Performers' Showcase, both the Outstanding Performance Award and the Laurel Award at the Shanghai Theatre Festival, the Best Supporting Role Award at the White Magnolia Awards for Shanghai Theatre, and an Honorable Award for Performance at the China Kunqu Opera Arts Festival. Liu is currently a member of the Chinese Dramatists’ Association and an exco member of the Art of Laughter Society of Shanghai.