"Dreamland Revisited"

Synopsis of “Dreamland Revisited" – Xun Meng, a scene from The Peony Pavilion

 "Dreamland Revisited" comes from "The Peony Pavilion," the finest work by Tang Xianzu (1550-1617), one of the major playwrights and poets of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The two scenes preceding "Dreamland Revisited" describe Du Liniang, daughter of a prefect of the Southern Song dynasty, taking a stroll in a garden accompanied by her maid. Liniang becomes very much taken by the beauty of the spring day and, returning to her quarters, she feels an overwhelming languor. She dozes off and dreams of being in the garden again, where a young man named Liu Mengmei appears. He declares to her his love and passion, to which Liniang shyly responds. They withdraw behind the rockery and make love among the peonies.    

 In "Dreamland Revisited," Liniang revisits the garden a few days later: the garden of her dream of passion. Haunted by the sweet memories of the dream, she longs to meet the charming young man in the flesh. Realizing, however, the impossibility of another encounter with him, she falls into a deep melancholy. Before she leaves the garden, Liniang predicts her own tragic demise: she soon will die soon from a love unfulfilled.

 This solo scene is marked by melodic and extended arias, elegant dance and delicate emotions. Demands on the actor are tremendous. "Dreamland Revisited" reiterates the central theme of this masterful play: the triumph of love and passion over reason. Du Liniang, a daring portrayal of a cloistered maiden yearning for love in bold defiance of  the Chinese feudal system, remains one of the most moving images of a lovelorn girl ever presented on the Chinese stage. 

Prepared by Ben Wang for the Kunqu Society