A Chinese Cracker: The Making of The Peony Pavilion

At the center of the exquisite Chinese opera The Peony Pavilion is a
romantic and poetic love story about a couple who encounter many
obstacles, including parental opposition, invading Mongol hordes, and
bungling comic servants. Intimate episodes alternate with elaborate set
pieces, lyrical poetry with low slapstick comedy. This abridged version of
the epic masterpiece from sixteenth-century dramatist Tang Xianzu is an all-
embracing art form. Acting, singing, dance, acrobatics, stilt-walking,
puppetry, recitation, pageantry, and martial arts all find a place in the rich
tapestry of The Peony Pavilion.