Bianlian or Face-Changing
First she had on a blue mask. Then faster than you could blink your eyes, it was yellow! “How’d she do that?” Before you could think about it…… whoosh…. It was now red with a yellow eye band…………. “Whoa!!!!!!!!” And then…………. Gone! Just that fast!
Of course, I’m talking about the magician lady at the recent show. It was the same lady that I got to tie up in the magic act during the second show. (See previous posting.) But in the first show, she put on one of those amazing displays of “Bianlian” or face-changing. One second she had on a blue mask, and with a pass of her hand across her face,……….. Presto…… it was now another color!
I had long heard about “Bianlian.” It is the face-changing technique that started from the Sichuan Opera. Performers used the masks in character, and with a quick wave of the hand or turn of the head, they change the mask. I read that professionals can change up to 10 masks in 20 seconds. And there are only about 200 artists able to perform the face-changing effectively. I guess we were privileged on this night! I sure was. (You may find some videos on YouTube.)
The magician lady did keep the stage lights dimly lit for her act. I’m sure that made the illusion and actions easier. Instead of doing many masks face-changes though, she reverted to a succession of other magic acts. In quick succession she did produce probably about 20 umbrellas, practically from thin air! They just kept coming out.
Other acts were more common, like girls dancing to different themes representing different regions of China. Dance acts of groups of girls seem very common at the many stage shows put on throughout China.
Several singers performed, including one that did a Michael Jackson imitation. I was more than a little confused when that one started. After a song or two in an army style outfit, he stated he was going to do a “Michael Jensen” song. The audience around me got very excited, as one of my co-workers kept calling out “Michael Jensen!” Until he donned the white glove, I couldn’t figure out where this was going. Then it finally hit me: his Chinese dialect was a little off….. “Michael Jackson!”
A group of at least 10 young men did a kung fu demonstration. At one point one performer jumped right into the audience. Another lady did a juggling act, and appropriately for our company, took a large table and spun it in the air with her legs. One odd performance included a man who did impersonations of birds and other noises.
But all performances were good, and everyone seemed to enjoy the night. I sure enjoyed it, particularly the magic shows, both the Bianlian and my magic debut.
Labels: China Shows, Decca Furniture, Life in China, Magic
She Wants Me to Tie Her Up???
Wow! Am I dreaming? I am sure she wants me to tie her up. I must be dreaming. But why are those lights so bright! Okay, I was actually doing my magic act debut. It started innocently enough. I was seated on the front row of the theater with other management at the Mid-Autumn Festival Show. The company had opted to hire a special troupe for a show of Chinese culture. In the second show, the magician, a beautiful lady in traditional attire invited me up to the stage. Not to be one to disappoint the cheering crowd, I complied. (Or was that jeering?)
I was soon lost. The lights were blaring brightly. She was asking me to do something. Of course, she was speaking in Mandarin. Oh, why hadn’t I learned the language after all this time here? It sure would help now! What is she saying?
Okay, she’s handing me a coat. That must mean she wants me to put it on. Ahhh! That’s it. But great, it is about half my size. At least the audience loves how it fits on me. The arms only reach down to about my elbows. This may have been the first time this trick had been performed with a big American. I hope I don’t rip it.
And now she hands me a rope. Nice…….. Oh, she wants me to do something with it. …..or with her hands. Oh, tie her hands. (At least crowd is really loving my bumbling, in not understanding her Chinese.)
Now another assistant comes out. Good someone to help me. I need that! She has a big rope and starts wrapping the magician lady, and hands me an end. Oh……. I’m supposed to wrap her up too. ………….. Oh, oh…… I got it = I’m supposed to tie her up!! Okay. I can do that. Wrap and tie. That was easy. Now what?
Another assistant shows up with a tent. Ahhh, someone is going to get in this. What am I supposed to do? Get in. Okay. No, they pull me out. I guess that wasn’t right. No, the magician is getting in. No, wait, now they want me in too? Oh…………. Both of us. Now this sounds like fun……… Huh? Why you pulling my head out? What I have to keep my head out? Bummer! I wanted to see this! Over. That was quick. There goes the tent. Wait a minute. Where’s my coat? Okay, I thought I felt something under that tent. But where’d it go? Wait, she has it on? Huh? The ropes are still tied on her! Over the coat I had on! Now how did she do that?
Oh, she wants me to do something else. Oh, I’m supposed to untie her. Should I do that? ……………. Okay, I guess the fun in the tent is over anyway. So I do untie all my knots from before. They are the same ones. And there is the coat on her. Now how’d she do that?
Since the show, a lot of folks have asked how she did that. But I don’t know! …… I was right there. Okay, my head was out of the tent, but I was close. But I have no idea how she did it. I felt the coat go right away, but I still don’t know how she got it on so quickly under those ropes. I guess that was magic.
Whatever, my magic debut sure was fun! Even in Chinese! What a great place to work and live!
More photos by clicking here, or using link in right column.
Labels: Chinese Holidays, Decca Furniture, Life in China, Magic
First she had on a blue mask. Then faster than you could blink your eyes, it was yellow! “How’d she do that?” Before you could think about it…… whoosh…. It was now red with a yellow eye band…………. “Whoa!!!!!!!!” And then…………. Gone! Just that fast!
