Growing Up With Teochew Opera - 17
Watching Performances by Teochew Opera Troupes from China
观看广东潮剧院一二三团，潮州市潮剧团，云霄潮剧团的演出

最近抽出时间观看2009年香港无线电视连续剧‘巾国袅雄’，觉得是一部非常好看的制作。很喜欢邓萃雯饰演的四奶奶，更喜欢黎耀祥饰演的柴九，并非常欣赏柴九经常说的话：'人生有几个十年，活就要活得痛快'。前三页博客叙述陈楚蕙三个十年的演出，她珍惜时间不停的演出演个痛快，观众珍惜机会欣赏演出看个痛快。

由于陈楚蕙的演出逐渐减少，我也在2000至2009年期间开始接触中国潮剧团的演出。首先是买旧电影的光碟如‘告亲夫’，‘陈三五娘’，‘闹开封’等。过后才买广东潮剧院一团和潮州市潮剧团的光碟如‘宝莲灯’，‘御园辨亲’，‘血溅三宝袍’等。我也开始接受男小生的演出，并到剧院观看演出。过后还认识不少演员，2008年老远跑到汕头观看演出。在这十年里，我观看比较多来自中国的潮剧团演出，也看得痛快。

With fewer performances by 陈楚蕙 and other Teochew Opera troupes from Hong Kong, I switched to watching performance by local Teochew Opera troupes. During a Lunar Year shopping in 2006, I was attracted by a VCD packing displayed at a VCD shop. I checked the story brief and was impressed with two new plots which I had not seen before. The two titles are 血溅三宝袍 and 苏后复国 by 广东潮剧院一团. I decided to give it a try as I hardly watch any peformances by China troupes after 姚璇秋 had scaled downed her appearance as key female lead.

To my surprise, the two titles were great and I began to accept male artistes palying the male lead role. So names like 林初发 and 黄映伟 were added to my favoruite artistes list. I was also excited to get to see 林燕云 pefrformace as she is a strong male lead artiste too. I also got to know the existence of 刘小丽 and 张怡凰.

Then, more good news came. 广东潮剧院一团 came to perform in Singapore in Jul 2006. I went to watch a few pefromances inclduing 苏后复国, 汉文皇后 and 白高粱. I also grabbed hold of the golden opportunity to visit the backstage. It was another breakthrough for me because it was not my usual me. In the past, I would watch the peformance and then leave the theatre. Some how, I picked up courage to go to the backstage and did a self introduction to the artistes I like and took photos with them. This headstart brought me closer to the artistes since then.

Barely 3 months later, 广东潮剧院三团 came to Singapore to perform. Other than 姚璇秋, I did not know the other artistes. I decided to go and watch their performances and picked 闹花灯 and 薛刚反唐. Them at the backstage, I got to see 姚璇秋 in person. I also got to know 李勇强,许碧霞, 张楚武 and 许佳婉. We became freinds and are still in contact.

As for 广东潮剧院二团, they came to Singapore in Dec 2000 but as I was not keen to watch opera troupes from China then,. I gave it a miss although I saw the advertisement. Later, I much regretted for not watching their performance after I watched 洗马桥 on VCD。

In 2008, 中国福建省云霄潮剧 came to Singapore to perform at 韭菜芭 for 15days from 14 to 28 Jun. I fell in love with their performances and got to know a few more friends like 汤艺勇 and汤挺峰. Then came 潮州市潮剧团 in Jul 2008. They performed at Kretat Ayer Theatre from 11 to 16 Jul 2008. I watched 折子戏 including 沈园绝唱, and long performances 哑女告状 and 天之娇女. I also got to know 许佳娜, 李玉兰, 奕培 and 蔡小玲.

Later, in Nov 2008, I visited 云霄潮剧团 and 潮州市潮剧团 in China at 谷饶 when I was watching the various troupes perfoming at the 3rd 潮剧节. I also had the opportunity to watch 广东潮剧院二团, 潮阳潮剧团 and many other troupes performed at the same place. Over at the city area, I got tickets to watch 广东潮剧院一团 performed 东吴郡主 at 慧如剧场.

I also managed to talk to 王锐光 in person and had a photo shoot when I watched the rehearsal for the opening ceremony of Teochew Opera Festival at the 汕头体育馆 on 8 Nov 2008. With the help of my friend from Hong Kong, I had a chance to 广东潮剧院二团 performed 石榴花 at 艺都剧院 on 9 Nov 2008. That was the first time I watched 王锐光 performed on stage. Guess who was seated behind me? I was delighted to see 姚璇秋. It was a very memorable and fruitful trip indeed.


Then in 2009, 云霄潮剧团 came to perform in Singapore from 8 - 27 Oct. I met up with my friends and went to watch some of their performances at 凤山宫 Defu Lane 12.