Taishin Bank Foundation for Arts and Culture

Comments on the Finalist

The love story between the Cao brothers and ZHEN Mi is something that is fantasized on and interpreted in many ways in intellectual literary works and folk art in China. While he was reading Deathless Beauty a work by CAO Pi, the playwright of this production saw the “bottomless loneliness” that CAO Pi felt and tried to tell a story from the perspective of Cao. This performance does not depict the weaknesses of human nature, the complex power struggles in the royal palace or the ambiguity of what is good/bad and right/wrong. Instead, it focuses on showing the magnanimity of CAO Pi and the emotions and thought that went into his unwavering decision not to destroy the classic poetry Luoshen Fu, making this performance a new take on a classic. The theme in Deathless Beauty that is most worth exploring is that this performance downplays the significance of love in this triangle. What these three people are looking for is not actually love but a sense of the self. CAO Pi tragically lost the woman he loved; however, he did not fantasize the deep love ZHEN Mi had for him. Instead, what caused him the greatest pain was his own boundless solitude.   Committee member:LIN Ho-Yi

Stories written for the stage during the Can-Guo period are popular with war and strategy-related themes being the majority of scenarios. Only the romantic tale about CAO Zhi, ZHEN Mi and CAO Pi gained wide currency throughout China, appearing frequently in history. The most obvious stereotypical characteristics of these three roles is that CAO Pi was extraordinarily treacherous, and that the unblessed love existed between CAO Zhi and ZHEN Mi.

Artwork Introduction

Deathless Beauty has been remade—its script, music, stage, costumes, lighting, and other elements have all been created anew. The production also gives a completely revised interpretation of the characters: instead of being devious, self-centered and arrogant, CAO Pi is desperate for affection from his wife, ZHEN Mi, and is eager to please his father, CAO Cao, and jealous of his younger brother CAO Zhi’s literary talent. It also features a highly unconventional stage design, in which the entire surface of the floor is a mirrored and tilted such that audience can see the reflection of all the actors.

Tang Mei You Taiwanese Opera Company has not followed the traditional narrative. According to history books, CAO Pi concentrated most of his efforts on internal administration rather than on waging wars against his rivals. Like his brother, he was also an accomplished poet and scholar, and he was even credited with writing “Yan Ge Xing,” the first Chinese poem in the style of seven syllables per line, which is also the cradle of Deathless Beauty.

The soul of Taiwanese opera—passion and poetry—is perfectly preserved in the project of Deathless Beauty, even as the production embraces the beauty of Chinese rhyme schemes and Western classical symphonic music.

Analyzing CAO Zhi’s Soul

However, in the project of Deathless Beauty, Tang Mei You Taiwanese Opera Company did not follow the inherent story-telling pattern. According to the history books, CAO Pi concentrated most of his efforts on internal administration rather than on waging wars against his rivals. He was also an accomplished poet and scholar, just like his younger brother CAO Zhi. He wrote Yan Ge Xing, the first Chinese poem in the style of seven syllables per line. That’s the cradle of Deathless Beauty.

The soul of Taiwanese Opera – affection and poetry – is perfectly preserved in the project of Deathless Beauty. It embraces Chinese beautiful rhymes with western classic symphony. It brings the mixture of oriental taste with western flavor to the audience. The creative team truly offered Taiwanese local culture new horizons by making CAO Pi the soul of the playwright, connecting traditional vital artistic elements with modern components.

A New Version of Taiwanese Opera

Deathless Beauty released a new version: script, music, stage, costume and lighting included.

The story gave the characters a brand-new interpretation. Instead of being devious, self-centered and arrogant, CAO Pi was desperate for love from his wife, ZHEN Mi, and was eager to please his father, CAO Cao. Even though CAO Pi was envious of CAO Zhi’s ability, CAO Pi preserved CAO Zhi’s beautiful poems at the end. Besides, ZHEN Mi was seen as the incarnation of spiritual power of CAO Pi. Deathless Beauty broke its history lockdown.

Further, a fictional character, “eternal spirit”, and “the apparition of CAO Cao” were created to provide a revealing insight into the mind of CAO Pi. Instead of speaking himself, CAO Pi expressed jealousy and insecurity through the mouth of “eternal spirit”. The conversation between CAO Pi and the spirit of CAO Cao revealed CAO Pi’s lust for power.

In addition to original scenario writing, it was innovative stage design that entranced the audience. The whole inclined floor with mirror-like surface reflected the image of every single role. Power and love were slipping away. Furthermore, the layered stage arrangement, technically used, helped to achieve a dramatic effect of light and shade, and a pronounced sense of three-dimensionality. All of the innovations in Deathless Beauty created an opening for effort to glory in Taiwanese Opera.

On top of that, Tang Mei Yun Taiwanese Opera Company has been devoted to integrating eastern and western music culture. New music composed in the production was accompanied by orchestra and tended to keep up with the plots. The ambiance provided clues of contemplation to the audience.

About the Artist

Indebted to tradition and guided by innovation, Tang Mei Yun Taiwanese Opera Company aims to be at the forefront of the field of traditional opera. It recruits experienced veterans, promotes rising stars, and fosters creative talent in Taiwan. For nearly 16 years, it has combined the techniques of modern dance with the transmission of ancient times for the benefit of the general public, upholding faith in the link between the past and future.

Production Team

Producer: TANG Mei-Yun

Playwright: ZHI Ru-Fang

Director: DAI Jun-Fang

Music Design: LAI De-He

Musical Director: LIU Wen-Liang

Stage Design: WANG Shi-Xin

The Main Cast: TANG Mei-Yun, XU Xiu-Sian, XIAO Mi, LU Qiong-Wu, XU Xian-Ji, LIN Fang-Yi, WU Ming-Zhi, LAN Zhong-Wen