The Chinese Experience
China There was quite a lively buzz in the room. About fifty elderly Chinese men and women were drinking tea, chatting and waiting for the storyteller.
On the stage was a table covered with a black cloth. In the background was a large fan covered with a photo of Yangzhou, the "small" city of 4 million inhabitants where I had just arrived.
The storyteller entered dressed in a long black silk shirt with a Mao collar.
He sat down behind the table on a high chair. He looked around the room, which seemed oblivious to his arrival. He took a jade stone from his pocket and slammed it down on the table with authority. Immediately, silence fell and all eyes turned to him. Magical!
What followed was 50 minutes of the story of "Wu Song Kills the Tiger" in Yangzhou dialect, much to the delight of the room and myself. I had prepared myself by reading the outline of the story beforehand.
But what life, what brilliance in his gestures and intonations! The audience seemed to know the storyteller and the story very well, and laughter and exclamations of approval punctuated the narration.
Then another tap of jade on the table and the session was over. Tea was immediately served in cups and the room resumed its hubbub, clearly commenting on the storyteller's performance.
Booking direct / Abbi Patrix
