Chengbei, Xu. creator Gengtao, Chen, tr. text Beijing China Intercontinental Press 2003 monographic 128 p.: col. ill.; 23 cm. Intriguing facial makeup -- Monkey plays that bustle with noise and excitement -- Anhui Troupes and the birth of Peking Opera -- The art of listening, old-style theaters -- The stage and props -- Four roles of Sheng, Dan, Jing and Chou -- Classic plays -- Music and the orchestra -- Acting -- Nan Dan, or men playing female roles -- Performers and performing schools -- Generations of famous actors -- Mei Lanfang, famous Dan impersonator -- Theatrical companies and old-style opera schools -- Forms of performance -- Old Beijing in Peking Opera's heyday -- Modern Peking Operas -- Singing, dancing and acting skills -- "Realms" of acting -- Conventions of Peking Opera -- Not easy to appreciate Peking Opera -- Peking Opera in its contemporary era. Xu Chengbei; translated by Chen Gengtao. "This book is published simultaneously in seven versions in different languages including Chinese, English, Japanese, Russian, French, German and Spanish."--Page 3 of cover. Operas, Chinese -- History and criticism Operas -- China -- Beijing Theater -- China -- Beijing Operas Operas, Chinese Theater 782.10951 CHE/P 7508502566 9787508502564