Master Qi and the Monkey King

Two Chinese opera performers based in America take center stage in author and filmmaker Alan Govenar's documentary. Qi Shu Fang says that her sister-in-law—a member of the Peking Opera—specialized in female martial roles in the 1950s, a time when men normally played these characters. Inspired, Qi practiced at home in rural Xi'an until she was ready to audition for the opera academy. Three years later, Qi graduated early from the five-year program and moved to Beijing. In addition to martial arts, acrobatics, and dance moves, Qi learned to apply her own elaborate make-up. During the Cultural Revolution, she appeared in Madame Jiang Qing's (Mao's wife) play Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy, which later became a movie (and inspired a Brian Eno record), making her famous throughout the country. Qi's husband, actor/director Ding Mei-kui, has his own specialty: the Monkey King, an immortal half-man, half-monkey character. The two met when they toured together in the 1960s, but love took time to bloom in the midst of Qi's nonstop rehearsing. While traveling through America in the 1980s, the pair felt they could make more of a difference by sharing their culture with new audiences, so they stayed behind to start their own troupe. Master Qi and Ding now perform with other Chinese immigrants who have Peking Opera training, including actor Liu Chun-nuan and orchestra conductor Tian Gang. Most live in Queens, which has a large Chinese population, but some work day jobs to make ends meet—which they don't seem to mind as long as it helps to keep their opera traditions alive. DVD extras include bonus performances and text bios. An interesting profile, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)