"A Sweet Rendezvous," a scene from "Love in the Western Chamber"

The central conflict of pitting free love between two young lovers against the forces of conventional morality that rules the high society in the ancient feudal society of China marks the quintessential spirit of Love in the Western Chamber, one of the most praised and renowned dramas in the Chinese theater. The dramatic lyrics in superb poetry are the towering literary achievement of Wang Shifu (circa 13^th century), who based his poetic play on two different versions of the stories by two other writers.

 While one of the version depicts the frivolous nature of love, as how it is reflected in how Master Zhang, a young enamored scholar, falls in love with and seduces Cui Yingying, daughter of the Grand Councilor, and then abandons her after their secret affair; another version tells how the two lovers marry and live happy ever after -- both of which elaborate on the nature of passion. Interestingly though, whether consciously or not on the part of Wang Shifu, as dramatically as their love blossoms, Love in the Western Chamber, one of the most popular Kunqu plays, also demonstrates affectation and artificiality, even in matters of the heart, among people of the upper class in China.

This performance of Love in the Western Chamber is the U.S. premiere of this timeless and memorable musical play.

Prepared by Ben Wang for the Kunqu Society