Chinese Opera for Hungry Ghosts

The Sin Geok Guan Wayang Hokkien group is a small Chinese opera troupe that has been performing for both living audience as well as spiritual beings from the other realm for the past 30 years.

While other artistes may have felt discouraged at performing to a seemingly empty house safe for a front row of empty chairs occupied by burning joss sticks, Tey Swee Huang, the 59-year-old troupe leader, insists that there is less pressure for her this way.

Speaking through, John Ng, 46, the troupe’s logistics assistant and interpreter, Tey, who hails from Muar, was quick to insist that it does not mean that an actor can put up a slack performance.

“Don’t forget that this is the month of Hungry Ghosts and the gates of hell are open for the sprits to roam,” said this seasoned performer with 40 years of experience.

Running on empty or full house?: Burning joss sticks denote the presence of a spiritual audience who have ‘come’ to watch the show.

“And just like the living, spirits also enjoy a good show. Do you know that if a troupe’s performance does not live up to their expectations, they will ‘complain’ to the temple head to find a replacement who can do a better job. That means we will not be invited by the temple again,” warned Tey.

No doubt, Tey and her troupe had found their fan base in the spiritual world. Fresh from their stint in Taman OUG, off Old Klang Road, they will be performing in Jinjang next before travelling to Tangkak in Johor. So far, Tey and her troupe does no less than 200 shows in a year.

In ensuring the continuance of an art which dates back 4,000 years, Tey said it was all thanks to the gods, who had insisted on their continuous presence year after year.

It is a must for the Chinese associations of an area to put up a Chinese opera show during the Hungry Ghost Festival or risk the displeasure of the spiritual realm.

Divine intervention: John Ng asking the gods to bless the troupe with a faultless performance before the curtains come up

“If an association fails to do so, they will encounter a lot of problems during the year,” said Ng, who speaks from experience.

Explaining their work schedule, Ng points out that show times are usually split into two sessions. Matinee shows are from 2pm to 4pm and carry simple plots and storylines.

Night time shows usually begin at 8.30pm and this is where the actors will appear in more elaborate costumes for the “heavier” plays which will carry themes of love, infidelity, treachery and valour.

One particular tragic tale is that of “Yeong Kwai Fei” a famous tearjerker which takes two nights to run. Likened to the Chinese version of Othello, it is a tale of an emperor who had to strangle his empress to thwart a rebellion.

But though Tey and her troupe may have found favour with the gods, they are well aware that their art may well be a dying one unless more young people are willing to learn the trade.

Si Chin Hin, 36, an actor would simply reason that it was pure interest which has spurred him thus far.

Evidently, accommodation can be far from luxurious as small troupes like Sin Geok Guan usually have to make do with basic living conditions. Actors and crew usually turn backstage space into living quarters as well when they are on the road. The seasoned performers have no problem with such lifestyle and some even have their wives in tow.

Though not many may find such conditions favourable, actor Lau Lam Hock, 46, suggested that it may be a lifestyle worth experiencing.

“Think adventure,” Lau hinted.

High shoe musical: Opera actors are especially proud of their costumes as Si Chin Hin shows off a pair of embroidered boots he bought while on tour in China.

Lau, who could sing modern Hokkien tunes as well as classic opera scores, has been in showbiz since age 12 and has even taken up martial arts instruction in order to qualify himself for the bigger roles.

The Sin Geok Guan Wayang Hokkien group can be contacted at 019-666 3419. All enquiries are to be forwarded to Goh, Tey’s husband.