Presented by Suzhou Kunqu Opera Theater of Jiangsu Province, China
Event Date: April 13, 2019
Michigan Theater

Synopsis:
Authored by Gao Ming (fl. 1340s), The Lute is a centuries-old masterpiece of Chinese drama/opera that tells a moral story about a man, Cai Bojie, and his two wives, Woman Zhao (Zhao Wuniang) and Lady Niu (Niu Xiaoji), whom he has sequentially married. Acquiescing to his parents’ demands, Cai goes to the capital to pursue fame and wealth, leaving his father, mother, and new-wed wife behind at home. In the capital, Cai becomes successful but is cut off from his family because of natural disasters; then accepting an imperial order, he marries Lady Niu. At home, famine has Cao’s parents starved to death, even though Woman Zhao tries her best to take care of them. After their death–triggered by their finding out that Woman Zhao eats husk so that they can eat rice, Woman Zhao goes to the capital to look for Cai, bringing a portrait of the deceased couple, and supporting herself on the road as an itinerary lute-playing balladeer. On the road, she visits a Buddhist temple; as she exits, leaves the portrait of her in-laws behind. Coincidentally, Cai visits the same temple; they do not meet though. Depressed by the lack of communication from home, Cai goes there to pray for the safety of his parents and Woman Zhao. There he finds the portrait Woman Zhao has left behind and taken it home because it reminds him of his parents. Informed by a monk at the temple that Cai has taken the portrait home, Woman Zhao comes to his mansion and finds his new wife, Lady Niu. Not knowing if Cai still loves her, and how she can compete with Lady Niu, Woman Zhao tells Lady Niu that she would go home alone. Realizing the dilemma Woman Zhao faces, Lady Niu asks her to stay so that they can find out why Cai has not contacted home. Thus, they have Woman Zhao sing a ballad telling the tragedy that Cai’s parents faced. Listening to the song, Cai can no longer hold his yearnings for his parents and Woman Zhao, and reveals the reasons why he has not contacted him–he did, but his communications were stopped by Lady Niu’s father. Realizing that Cai is neither an unfilial son nor disloyal husband, the two woman embrace Cai, and then the three live as a happy family.