Center for the Arts to Present Excerpts from The China Beijing Opera "The Monkey Knows No Walls"

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for the Arts at the University at Buffalo will present the "Beijing Opera Monkey Troupe" from the International Center of Beijing Opera in Excerpts from The China Beijing Opera "The Monkey Knows No Walls" at 8 p.m. on Oct. 17 in the Drama Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

This adaptation of "The Monkey Knows No Walls" is a short tribute to the many art forms that is Chinese Opera: music, song, stylized dance and posture, facial expression, martial arts and mystical stories of the immortals of heaven.

"The Monkey Knows No Walls" is a short adaptation centered on "Monkey King" the famous hero of "Journey to the West." The handsome monkey knows his destiny, so fears nothing. "Knowing No Walls," even as a little monkey, he soon became the king of the land of fruits and flowers. He traveled all the continents looking for the immortal master and found him. Even though the master would teach no one, he taught the monkey the secrets of transformation. The story then continues when the Monkey King meets the Turtle, Dragon King of the Eastern Ocean, the Heavenly Maiden, the Heavenly Warriors, Green Dragon and White Tiger.

The performance is split into two parts. The first consists of a review of the tradition, techniques and characters of the Beijing Opera, which will include a lecture and demonstration with some audience participation. The second consists of the performance "The Monkey Knows No Walls." A question-and-answer session will be held at the end of the performance.

The Beijing Opera Monkey Troupe's version also incorporates traditional-style shadow puppetry not found in the Chinese stage performances. This troupe, true to form, portrays all the characters in masks that mimic the traditional face-paint makeup of Chinese opera.

Ticket holders for this performance also will be admitted to a special reception and advance viewing of the Chinese Maximalism exhibition in the UB Art Gallery. This is the first-ever exhibition of Chinese contemporary art in Western New York, and will feature more than 65 works by 18 artists. UB Art Gallery is the only U.S. venue hosting the exhibition. The reception will begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets for Excerpts from The China Beijing Opera "The Monkey Knows No Walls" are $10 for the general public and $5 for UB students. Tickets are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center for the Arts Box Office and at all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 1-416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.