Special Appearance At Karaoke’s Contest 柴房会

In 1999, I sang a teochew opera song as a guest performer at a karaoke contest. The song which I sang was a segment from the 折子戏 柴房会. My performance lasted more than 15 minutes. That was the opera my wife and I watched at Raffles Place after we had our wedding photo taking session on the stage where 老赛桃源潮剧团 performed. Many of my colleagues were shocked with my performance. They wondered how I memorized all the lyrics as I hardly stared at the screen. I thought it was an achievement for me too.

See below, for the lyrics of the segment (adapted from chaoju.com), which I performed.


莫二娘（唱）尊声大哥我的大恩人，你莫惊。

李老三（唱）我不惊……

莫二娘（唱）请端坐容奴细诉苦情。

李老三（白）我端坐！我端坐！（唱）端坐，端坐在柴房之里，我劝一声冤魂鬼你莫悲声，你家住在哪一州，哪一府，哪一县，哪一乡？哪州哪府哪县哪乡，尊姓贵名从头讲。

莫二娘（唱）奴本是，太平县莫家庄人氏，莫二娘是妾的名字。幼年不幸双亲丧，丢下奴孤苦无依。投身富家为奴日，为奴为日受尽鞭答度日如年。

李老三（唱）在富家为奴不如牛和马，我也曾尝过这辛酸苦涩味。你千处万处不去投，这富家豪门怎么可依栖？难道你家无叔伯婶姆，远亲近邻，舅妗姑姨，投亲靠戚，寻藤宿枝，胜比那鸟人牢笼受磨折。

莫二娘（唱）言虽是，怎奈投亲又逢不义。堂叔起歹心，拐奴卖落烟花之地。正是前门方拒虎，后室豺狼又到身边。奴誓死不肯接客，恶鸨婆严刑毒施，打得我皮破肉裂。莫奈何涂脂抹粉，强颜欢笑吞声忍气。常抱琵琶偷弹泪，只望从良暗祷苍天。

李老三（唱）你既有心从良， 岂有才郎合你心意？

莫二娘（唱）那日来了一客商，甜言蜜语惜玉怜香。他怜我坠落火坑，每为我嗟叹心伤。我见他多情堪匹配，山盟海誓结鸳鸯。

李老三（唱）既是情投意合多恩爱，他何处人氏说给我知。

莫二娘（唱）他家住在扬州地，阳春便是他名字。见奴囊中多积蓄，商量赎身脱离烟花地。

李老三 后来如何？

莫二娘（唱）赎身之后同他归去，半途不幸遭病缠。谁料到贼阳春，心毒如蛇蝎，见奴财帛起歹意。汤药不顾恶言相欺，百般凌辱恨奴不死。竟乘奴病中昏睡， 盗金银首饰逃走离，丢奴在床奄奄待毙。势迫无奈寻短见， 阴魂不散在柴房里！

李老三 哎咋！阳春呀，狗奴才！（唱）我听，听听听，听冤魂言来伤心怀，果然冤情深似海。亏她历尽千般苦，铁石人闻之也悲哀。

金玉良缘红楼梦
by 林青霞 (Brigette Lin),张艾嘉

Time flies. Recalled watching 金玉良缘红楼梦 by superstars Brigette Lin many years ago. Think that was the first time she played 'male' lead as 贾宝玉 in the movie. Of course, there were many commendations and criticisms about her her acting skills and the role she played. If you have watched her movies like 新龙门客栈, 东方不败, 刀马旦etc, I leave it to you to make your own judgment.

I also watched 越剧红楼梦 'Dream of Red Chamber' by 徐玉兰 and 王文娟 many years ago. It was a repeat but thousands flocked to see. I managed to get a ticket in the first row. I was touched by the songs, beautiful scenes and polished acting skills. I did not mind straining my neck throughout the entire show. The movie started at closed to 10 pm, (supposed to be a 9.15 or 9.30 pm show) and ended past midnight. Strange, it was one of those shows which my intuitive thoughts told me I should not miss it. Great movie indeed.

The 7th Youth Opera Showcase - Victoria Theatre
红楼 梦 and 三岔口

Just returned from Victoria Theatre. This evening, several schools and the Singapore Opera Institute put up a remarkable 2-hour performance. My whole family was there to give Chinese opera our fullest support.

The first part of the show was put up by :
- Nan Chiau High School : Phoenix Egg
- Balestier Hill Secondary, Balestier Hill Primary and Chong Boon Secondary School : Subduing the Pirates.

After the 10-min break, Raffles Girls' School put up a 30-min show 红楼梦 'Dream of Red Chamber' and 林嘉 and 秦占宝 of the Singapore Opera Institute performed 三岔口 'Crossroad Inn'.

The performance by RGS was excellent. The standard was very high and the students could sing and peform very well in 越剧 (A type of Chinese opera.) . The two students who played the role as 贾宝玉 and 林黛玉 received the top honours, Gold award, for their outstanding performance. Personally, I felt the show by RGS was of a high standard. The students and teachers-in-charge must have put in a lot of hardwork during these few months. The excellent performance was not possible without the enthusiasm and commitment of both the students and teachers. Congratulations to RGS. I was told that the successful performance by RGS could not be possible without the close guidance and mentoring by 蔡碧霞老师 and 林嘉老师 of the Singapore Opera Institute. Good job 碧霞 and 林嘉.

I was also there to support 林嘉 as this is his first time performing Peking Opera. He did impress me with the display of his martial arts skills. 林嘉, the man dressed in black, performed the role as 刘利华 in 'Crossroad Inn'. Well done, 林嘉.

Another Young Man Who Loves to Watch Teochew Opera

Is the heading correct? Yes, absolutely. A few months, I came to know A.C., a young man in his 20's who loves to watch and perform Chinese Opera.

Just a few weeks ago, I got to know another young man, Q.L., who loves to watch Teochew Opera. To be specific, just like my whole family, he likes to watch 陈楚蕙 movies and stage performances. He is really young, less than 20 years old. I am too glad to know such a fan of 陈楚蕙 as we can share common topic about Teochew Opera and 陈楚蕙. We shared our collections and VCDs too. He has a wide range of collections (photos, cassettes, videos, VCDs). This afternoon, my mother, sister and I enjoyed watching 穆桂英招亲. We have not seen this movie before and I must really thank Q.L for lending me that VCD.