The Yongjia Kunqu Opera from Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, will present three shows of “The Peony Pavilion” at two venues in town. Cai Zhengren, director of the opera, will give an introduction at the Nov. 1 show at the Mountain View Theater.

“The Peony Pavilion” is a romantic tragicomedy play written in 1598 by dramatist Tang Xianzu. It depicts a love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei who overcome all difficulties, transcending time and space, life and death, with the pair uniting at the end. Tang’s play dynamically integrates the legendary and the realistic of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Scenes of love in dreams, Du’s revival, and any supernatural elements may seem absurd in the play, but they reflect the sprout of humanism, through the protagonists’ strong desire and unremitting pursuit of free love, and uncovers the degeneracy of the society under the feudalism of that time.

Kunqu, based on folk music in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, is one of the oldest types of operas in China, dating back to the Ming Dynasty. It combines singing, dancing, gestures and poetry recitals, but the verse is delivered in an archaic language made all the more difficult to grasp because it is in a southern dialect. As charming as that may be, it puts the opera out of reach for most people, which probably helps explain the broad indifference that has helped sow its slow decline since the 18th century.

Time 1: 8 p.m., Nov. 1

Tickets: 280-380 yuan (Tickets can be purchased on the WeChat account “海上世界文化艺术中心”)

Venue: Mountain View Theater, 3/F, Sea World Culture and Arts Center, Nanshan District (南山区海上世界文化艺术中心三楼境山剧场)

Metro: Line 2 to Sea World Station (海上世界站), Exit A

Time 2: 8 p.m., Nov. 2-3

Tickets: 180-580 yuan (Tickets can be purchased on the WeChat account “SZpolytheatre”)

Venue: Shenzhen Poly Theater, Nanshan District (南山区深圳保利剧院)

Metro: Line 2 or 11 to Houhai Station (后海站), Exit E

(SD News)