Conversation with Sunbeam Theatre
2-6-15
We had a chance to sit down and talk with Charlie from the Sunbeam Theatre. Sunbeam is the oldest theatre in Hong Kong and dedicated to the preservation of Cantonese Opera. Charlie is a Faa Daan, or the female love interest. She is in her fifties and still playing an ingenue type… Close to retirement and moving into the teaching side of art; we were honored to talk with her and hear about what it is like to be an Opera superstar.
1. Hi Charlie! What made you passionate about working in Opera?
My mother and grandmother were opera performers. I grew up attending shows in the old festivals and loved seeing the costumes. My grandmother performed until she was in her 90’s. I started training when I was five years old and knew I was going to do it. Family business.
2. How has opera changed through out the years?
It has changed so much. I remember in the 70’s and 80’s shows were always sold out. People would love them and the performers. Now there is television, the internet and many kinds of drama shows in Hong Kong. The audiences are smaller and they are older but I feel they are much more passionate about the performances. I love our audience. I do wish they would bring more children and young people with them. It is important that we make sure that future people appreciate our heritage art forms.
3. How do you think we can bring more young people to the theatre to see Opera?
Most children I have spoken to think it is boring or too long. They do like the costumes and the makeup but struggle following the stories. I love the tradition of my art form but I think it is important that we update it and don’t feel afraid to modernize. Children cannot sit through three and four hour productions anymore.
4. Three and four hours? Is that how long the shows are?!!
Yes. A traditional, full-length Chinese opera can be up to four hours. It is very affordable entertainment when you consider how long the performances are. Some showcase days go for eight or nine hours when you perform several pieces together in a festival. We leave the lights half way on and let the audience come and go as they please.
5. How do you get stamina for that kind of performance?
A lot of training over many years. Especially the men who play the physical character or the Cau Sang who are the clown. You get used to the strain but must eat healthy, take care of your voice and love yourself.
6. Does it get boring playing one kind of character your whole life?
No. I learn everything about them and know them better than myself. Faa Daan is part of me. I know when I’m finished playing her, I will train other girls to carry on the tradition and honor her. I’m very grateful to get to play a character that everyone recognizes. Faa Daan is like Cinderella for old Hong Kong. She is beautiful, respectful, graceful, virtuous… Who wouldn’t want to be that for their career?
7. When did you decide to play the Faa Daan?
I did not decide. It was decided for me in training. I was sent to China when I was 12 for intensive study. I only did Opera for 8 hours a day, 7 days a week for two years. One day during the second year, they lined us all up and tested us on skills. At the end of the skills test, half were sent home to their parents. The other half were given characters and told this is who you will be. We were then given a Si Fu and sent to a theatre to train. My master was very kind to me, she was like a mother to me. I trained for another two years before I could be onstage.
8. Are you a Si Fu?
I have mentored a few girls in Hong Kong. I’m moving into teaching soon, as I’m getting older and won’t be able to perform as a Faa Daan much longer.
9. You can’t learn another character?
That’s not really how it is done. I could try and learn how to play the mother character but I don’t know if I would be any good at it. I would much rather teach girls to honor the Faa Daan.
10. There is controversy that Hong Kong spends too much focus on Opera and not enough promoting other art forms. Any response to that?
I don’t believe there is too much of a good thing. I think the government must do more to support all art as well as Opera. We must support the local culture that already exists. Why build new theatres or cultural districts when we can’t fill the theatres we already have?
11. Any final words for our readers?
Please see a Chinese opera. Even if you do not speak Cantonese, it is a beautiful art form that can be appreciated by all.
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