Opera at the Laoshe Teahouse

Opera at the Laoshe Teahouse
Originally uploaded by JW.

We were invited by our Chinese hosts to have dinner at a restaurant in Beijing called the Laoshe Teahouse. Each evening, the restaurant houses a theatrical show which consists of a series of short sketches by musicians, actors, comedians and dancers.

Here are two characters from traditional Chinese opera, enacting a scene in a room which is entirely dark. We have to imagine that they are unable to see each other. The man in black is trying to assasinate the man in white. Because the room is dark, he doesn't realise how close he is coming to that defensive sword.