Chapter 4 The Growing Years - Cantonese Operas

Our Grandmother just loved watching Cantonese Operas even though there was a slight difference in the way in the same Cantonese dialect.Well,sad to say till today I could hardly speak in that dialect,a dialect belonging to most carpenters in Teluk Anson.Our cousins can conversed fluently in them not us except my father.

She liked the Operas so much that she was always at hand to watch those lived shows whenever they were in town.She had a partner in this,an old woman of the same age and alway wit her for every show,occupying the most expensive front row seats.My sister always tagged along with her while we too at times joined her.

As kids we were free access into the hall and probably occupying the empty seats around if any .Should there be full house than we have no seats,then we will have to seat on the laps of our mother at the far back rows.My sister would sit on with the granny.But the point was were we wasting our time there???.Maybe,we were but as time went by we now those operas did us a world of wonders.

Of course our mother was also a kin follower of such operas but on;ly could afford the cheaper eats a distance away from the stage.Failing to secure a seat ,she and her friends would have to watch from sides partition.In that case we sometimes were seated on the bar of the partition.

Very often both my brother and I would dozed off towards the end of the show and slept in those empty seats.With it over we had to be carried home by my father and mother.My sister walked home with my grandmother. Yah.those good old days.

The only entertainment after the Japanese left was the Amusement Park approved by the British Government.Located some where in the middle of town.It covered a wide area housing the stage and hall for Chinese operas or other variety shows.There was also a Cabaret facing the main road on the other side.There was also a theater showing old western films.

A number of food and coffee stalls facing a stage where some can dance cheaply - the "Ronggeng",very popular among the locals.For a few cents (I think about twenty cents or so) a traditional Malay dance can brought with a beautiful hostess to dance with.Further there were lucky draws with simple devices to attract punters to their outlets.Prices were in the form of cigarettes or toys.Those days there not many brands of cigarettes t select from.Most common were "Rough Riders" "Players Gold Leaf" and Lucky Strike".

At the far end of the Amusement Park was the Majestic Theater showing most of the time Chinese film.Surprisingly viewers on completing their film show there can go into from their out let doors into the Amusement Park free of charged.Other than than all entering the Amusement park had to pay an entrance fee of about twenty cents.I supposed the theater and the Park were of the same Company.

The Cabaret caters to a large variety of people especially the British initially .Locals from the businesses around and government officers.As school boys we normally passed by it wondering what were installed within.Pretty and sexy dance hostesses???, so they told us.What ever it was it was out of bound to us.

As kids we never wander around the Amusement Park on our own.We went there mostly was to see the Cantonese Operas.These Operas do not stay long in town,only for a month or so every year than moved on to other towns.As kids we were exposed to solely Cantonese Operas nothing else not even film shows.

Well as kids we used to imitate those actors and actresses of the Operas. Initially using over size clothing for our own play.In case all these got out of hands,we bore the full bunt of it getting caned by the mother for messing up with all the clothes.My mother and sister also enjoy singing on their own those tunes of the Operas.

My grandmother was a keen follower of those shows and never missed them while they were in town.Though her Cantonese dialect were toned slightly different she and her friend could follow the sequences of the show,mostly Chinese ancient classical stories.In actually find them funny despite knowing the stories and most Operas group depicted the same thing over and over again my grand mother and friend including my mother never seem to mind see them acting the same thing through out again and again,

Many of the viewers even fell in love with the main actor with some males the female actresses.Ayoooo!!!!!,most of these actors were never handsome and old,only the heavy make ups made them looked nice and handsome.The female actresses similarly masked with heavy make ups.Still all these admirers never seem to mind.I really wander whether my grand mother went there sitting directly in front really enjoyed the show or the main actors.Well,I never took note of that so no further comment.

One thing for sure,my mother and most her female friends do really adored the male actors,going for the Operas just t have a good good at him.Those we as kids too knew who and who at the Operas,but have forgotten all their stage names by now.That was so long a go.

Being exposed to Cantonese Operas at so tender a age I think it did wonders to our lives in the future.My brother for example drew its inspiration to draw all those main actors and actresses with all their dresses and gears etc.to put them in drawing in the sand at the back of our house.That helped him to developed his artistic skills which made a great artist to reckon with.

Our brother was too young to have drawing papers nor pencil those days but his mediumwas on the vacant patch of sandy land behind our house.There neither pencil to begin with so he used a simple twig of a small branch-that promoted his skill in drawing.Yes it was an amazing fit for a child of three or less years old.He could reproduced what he saw at the Operas.

As soon as the sun rises he was already at it without failed to produce those fine drawings on the sand.Each day with new topic and he did it without ant guidance.From he improve his drawings by the day,with each day's drawing better than the previous days work.One of tenants was full of praised for this young budding artist.

As for me I too had a fair share of my drawings on the sand but mine never reached the standard produced by my kid brother,maybe I was slightly lazy.One thing was for sure I did not have the patient my brother had.Squatting the whole morning facing the sand and drawing,drawing until the vast area was filled his drawings.He definitely unknowingly put in a lot of hard work and practices in to his work.

Before long he was enrolled into Anglo-Chinese School where his talents were immediately recognized with many of his works displayed at exhibitions and subsequently won some prizes for them.We all know that he was influenced by the Cantonese Operas.My grandmother never dreamed that by going to Operas would yield such results.She should be very happy with her pet grandson.

We can be said grew up with the Operas which also helped to understand our Chinese culture and our roots .So adapted to such Operas we today in such modern times still very much attached to it although it appeared to be a dying art form.I still like to listen to all those singing of the Operas consisting of good singing the classical way together of the loud music (big gong and drum) accompanying it.

My elder sister was also an enthusiatic singer of this art form and had taken it beyond Malaysia and sang and acted on it in Great Britain.Though it was no big deal at least she did try to promote it there,singing the Operas in English.I really wander what it be when singing in English????.

It is a a vanishing art form but many enthusiatic personals in Hong Kong, Canton not to mention Malaysia and Singapore are trying to revive it.Hope they succeed.
Operas are Cantonese traditional art forms involving fantastic acting and singing,accompanied by gong and drum (its music),including excellent acrobatic stunts and Chinese martial art (Kung Fu).

Most of the stories are based on Chinese history,famous Chinese classic and myths.Cultures and philosophies of the Chinese people are encountered within such plays.Not t forget the virtues like loyalty,moral love,faithfulness and patriotism which often reflected by these Operas.Inclusive are also the beautiful and colorful costumes combination creating a simple form of entertainment which also carries a message across.

Very often these were performed over and over again by the same or other troupe,the public still are attracted to all their shows in full force.So were my mother and grandmother.