The story of Effendi has been alive among the Chinese folks for decades. Indeed, the protagonist left an indelible imprint on many Chinese people whey they were young. With this in mind, NCPA adapts it to a children’s opera to commemorate the upcoming 9^th anniversary of her inception. Come to appreciate the visual feast between December 22^nd and 28^th!

NCPA adapts it to a children’s opera to commemorate the upcoming 9^th anniversary of her inception

Effendi, a puppet cartoon produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio, was one of the greatest big-screen classics back in the 1980s and 1990s in China. Effendi always wears a pair of mustaches and rides a little donkey. He wanders here and there, outsmarting despots and villains for helping plebs.

 

From 2015 onwards, NCPA has explored a path of making children’s operas, aiming to lead children into the high-brow wonderland through breathtaking plot and fascinating music. This is the second children's opera after The Fishman and the Goldfish made its debut in 2015.

 

The script is based on an episode called “Planting Gold” of the world-famous Effendi series

Way back in June 2015, we have begun to create Effendi. The script is based on an episode called “Planting Gold” of the world-famous Effendi series. In the story, Master Bayi sucks blood from the populace as much as possible. When Effendi comes here and finds the truth, he becomes furious and eager to help plebs. Then a whimsical idea strikes him - to make Master Bayi and his wife believe in a magic that gold can be planted and reaped. As a result, the greedy couple get more and more involved in the well-orchestrated delusion, finally planting all their gold in the field. Effendi leads the victims to dig out the glittering gold and let everyone take his share. This funny tale makes alive the inevitable doom of those dishonest guys, and eulogizes the sweet success earned through wisdom at the same time. And it even conveys a value view that “Goodness bears the mark of dignity.”

Effendi makes Master Bayi and his wife believe in a magic that gold can be planted and reaped

For this opera’s childlike naiveté, NCPA has set up a strong team of youngsters. YIN Qianwen, who graduated from China Conservatory of Music, is a very talented young composer as the daughter of Chinese composer YIN Qing. This time she does not employ “awesome” techniques, but makes something fit for children. Her boldly borrowing Xinjiang instruments like hand-drum and rawap makes a very difference indeed. And as inspired by that episode, playwright HAN Jianguang created a new story that depicts vividly witty Effendi, despicable Master Bayi as well as amiable plebs. There is yet another role Anarhan, in fact a little girl. Resident director TANG Juanjuan has been held in great acclaim owing to Aida, Macbeth, The Long March, Samson et Dalila and other operas. This time she injects youthful vim into the orchestration of Effendi. Choreographer and make-up artist will be DING Ding and WEI Chunyan, both from NCPA. Through their effort, the cast will be quite comic. Apart from his iconic mustaches and headcloth, audiences can see an electric donkey on that occasion.

 

It is worth mentioning this time Effendi will have two actors - singers WANG Hongwei and HUANG Xunguo. Xinjiang-born WANG will show us his alter ego on the stage. Master Bayi would star both GUAN Zhijing and HAO Xiaohui. And his wife will be played by MENG Meng and XU Qian. LIU Yueyang, a child singer selected by NCPA, will interpret Anarhan, a character newly added to the centuries-old legend.