The Flower Garden of Magnificent Colors

From the opening night at Taipei’s National Theatre in April of 2004 to the show at the Beijing Exhibition Centre in May of 2007, “The Peony Pavilion: Young Lovers’ Edition” had been performed exactly one hundred times. At this juncture, “The Peony Pavilion: Young Lovers’ Edition” is moving on in strides, embarking into another new domain. Looking back into the past five years, I could see Mr. Kenneth Pai (Pai Hsien-yung) working so passionately for Kunqu, as if he was bearing a mission from the heavens. I could also see him managing various people and events with tact, wisdom, and vision. I give Mr. Kenneth Pai my utmost respect.

Crafted by Mr. Kenneth Pai, “The Peony Pavilion: Young Lovers’ Edition” has become a classic and a model for Kunqu. Single-handedly, Mr. Kenneth Pai has trained a group of new-generation actors, contributing to the certainty of succession. He has cultivated new interest in tens of thousands in the audience, significantly raised the level of knowledge and appreciation for the initiated, and created unparallel excitement everywhere that the Young Lover’s Edition has gone. The charisma and fame of both Mr. Kenneth Pai and Ms. Fan Mannong in the arts and in literature must be the driving force that brought forth and brought together our nation’s best, to make Tang Xianzu’s original work into a new classic and a beautiful new blueprint for the performance of The Peony Pavilion. Prominent artists Mr. Wang Shiyu and Mr. Zhang Jiqing gave advice without any reservations; famous calligrapher Ms. Tong Yang-Tzi gave the generous gift of her brush work to enhance the stage; others in the team revolutionized the traditional stage, providing a refreshing visual effect; they made Kunqu the brightest star.

Mr. Kenneth Pai always says that he is merely a volunteer who promotes Kunqu. He is like a general with only one soldier, all determined to bring Kunqu to the whole world, to let people see the most beautiful culture and art of China. He is perhaps the only one who can accomplish such a mission. Many times as the curtain closes, I have stood at the back of the stage to watch the audience. The applause has always been enthusiastic, no matter the audience’s diversity of socio-economic backgrounds or their age, some even in tears and others lingering in front of the stage. I am deeply moved by the power of culture and the value of art, but most importantly the payoff of great effort.

I thank Mr. Kenneth Pai and Ms. Fan Mannong whole-heartedly, for leading Yong-Ni and me through the grand lobby of the Kunqu palace. We participated, we learned, we struggled, we fell in love with Kunqu. We saw the grandiose of a garden filled with flowers of magnificent colors, flowers dancing and stirring the emotions of youth.

Thank you, dear friends, for serving such a feast of art. We are enjoying every bit of it.

Wang Tong
Director of video,
Artistic supervisor of “The Peony Pavilion: Young Lovers’ Edition”