Peking Opera House

Although western style Theatres began to be built during the Republic era, the show explicitly displays Old-style theatres, Xiyuanzi (戏园子). At an early date, audiences paid for the tea but for not the opera they watched. That was not the case in the 1930s anymore. Still, as we see in the drama, the audience continued to enjoy tea and snacks while they watched the opera.

We don't know exactly, where opera houses in the drama are located, yet, they are very likely located in the Qianmen Gate Tower area, south of the Qianmen (Zhengyangmen) Gate, since most of the opera houses in the 1930s scattered there. In Episode 6, Shang Xirui brought Cheng Fengtai to the Tianqiao, which is located directly connected to the south part of the Qianmen area. He originally plans to build their own theatre in this area.

## Huibin House (汇宾楼)

Cheng Fengtai meets Shang Xirui for the first time at the Huibin Peking Opera House. Compared to other opera houses, which appear in later episodes, this Opera House is rather small. Yet, the basic structure doesn't seem much different from other opera houses.

### The Hall (the stage, the hall seat, and the private boxes)

Not only the size of the Theatre, but its facility is rather modest. For example, audience seats are simple benches with back supports. On the back of the benches are nailed long-framed planks, on which are placed teacups as well as snacks.

In this hall, Shang Xirui performs Yang Guifei in episode 1 & 2 and later in episode 5 & 6 with the emperor. Props seem rather sparse for the palace scene, however it's an aesthetic choice, which fits to the Peking Opera's "less is more" style. In fact, props of Peking Opera are usually a table and two chairs.

Generally, Stages in such traditional Opera Houses were first paved with wooden planks and later covered with carpets. This way to make sure that actors performing gymnastic feats would not hurt themselves.

## Yahong Opera House (雅鸿戏院)

In Episode 3, Jian Ronshou mentioned Yahong Opera House as a special opera House, where Many famous performers sang. Even he, Chairman of Beiping Opera Circle, couldn't intervene in their decision, when they had a new contract with Shang Xirui.

In this Opera House, Shang Xirui played Zhao Feiyan (Episode 14) and won the competition with Chen Renxiang.

### the Backstage

At the back stage, there was a small altar (that we also see in the back stage of Huibin House). In Episode 14, Shuiyun House Troupe made an offering to Deity Lao Lang (老郎神), the founder of Chinese Opera.

Still today, we quite often see similar customs, when a production begins filming. All essential crew members, such as directors as well as lead actors get incenses and pray to the heaven and earth for a smooth shooting.

(Cf. Chinese Dramaland's Weird Practices + Some Random Facts by Avenue X https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_BNfPZu\_Sf8)

Deity Lao Lang

### the Hall

The stage was bigger than Huibin House. The audience could see musicians sitting on the right side of the stage. Not only the guest in the private boxes, but also the audience, who sat on the ground floor, got their own chairs and tables. We can see three sides of the stage face the audience. Two curtained doors (shoujiu) are also shown on the both side of the stage. These are typical features of classical Peking Opera stage, which are, however, hardly recognizable at the Huibin House because of its size.

## the first Theatre (第一楼)

According to the sales contract (ep. 20), the Royal Theatre, which was a part of the princely manor house, was located in Qingshuihe (清水河) No. 89. I couldn't find this address, it is probably fictional address. The Royal Theatre was renamed into the first Theatre.

### A Bird's view

Although, we don't know exactly, where the manor house was located, it is possible to guess, where the Theatre itself was situated in the manor house because of the throne seat, the seat for the emperor. This seat must have been located on the north side of the Theatre, and on this side the entrance was situated. The drama shows, one could directly enter the Theatre from the entrance, which was facing the street. Thus, the Theatre was placed in the northern part of the manor house.

### the main feature of the Theatre

Without question, this Theatre was the most prestigious Theatre among those, which appeared in the drama. After all, it was built for the royal audience. Not only Shuiyun House was allowed to play there, they themselves were the owner of this Theatre. This was a huge accomplishment, since even the powerful Longchun Troupe of Jing Rongshou couldn't afford their own Theatre.

The stage was built as an independent two story building in the courtyard, while the entire courtyard was surrounded by rectangular building, which consisted of the main entrance, the private boxes as well as the backstage.

### The Backstage

Like other opera houses, an altar was situated on the one side of the main dressing room and on the other side of the room, there was a connected door. Both Shang Xirui's dressing room as well as Cheng Fengtai's office, which were facing each other, were located behind this door.

Deity Lao Lang

### The Stage in the courtyard

Since the stage was located in the courtyard and there was no roof for the audience, who sat in the courtyard, they put a lamp on each table.

## Opera Circle Hall (梨园会馆)

Alongside the opera houses, a lot of things happened in the Opera Circle Hall, the Hall of Beiping Liyuan (lit. translation Pear Garden), since people of Liyuan a.k.a. the Peking Opera society gathered in this hall in various occasions. In fact, the drama began with the scene celebrating the Chairman of Beping Liyuan, Jian Ronshou's birthday.

The fundraising charity Opera Performance for the Army (ep. 2 & 3), the press conference of Chen Renxiang (ep. 12), the commemoration of Grandmaster Zhang (ep. 15), Yuan Xiaodi's retirement party (ep. 21 & ep. 22), the Farewell Gathering of Liu Hanyun (ep. 25 & 26), and the election of top opera performers (ep. 28 & 29) as well as Shang Xirui's performance of Battle of Jinshan (ep 37) were all held in this hall. On the appreciation Banquet, Xiao Zhouzi (Zhou Xiangyun) also performed at this Hall (ep. 47), where he met Shang Xirui for the first time.

Jian Ronshou's Birthday Party]]The fundraising charity Opera Performance for the Armythe press conference of Chen Renxiangthe entrance of the Opera Circle Hallthe commemoration of Grandmaster ZhangYuan Xiaodi's retirement partythe Farewell Gathering of Liu Hanyunthe election of top opera performersShang Xirui performed Battle of Jinshan in front of Japanese SoldiersThe Appreciation Banquet

## 暢音閣

from Episode 25The Stage is a three-storied building
## Literatur

XU, Chengbei: Peking Opera (Cambridge University Press 2010)