4-23 Tang Dynasty Show and Dumpling Banquet

 We have had so many wonderful dumplings while in China that I was a little nervous about attending this "banquet".  The dumplings were exceedingly mediocre.  We sat at a 4-top with a Taiwanese gentleman from Baltimore, MD.  Michael and I lived in Columbia, MD for 17 years so we had a lot in common.  

The show was decidedly better than the meal!

People heading in for the show.

We were entertained by these musicians while eating and waiting for the show.  You had to pay extra to get seats in this front area.  They got extra food and better seats!

These girls are in the show.  Their job before the show is to smile and nod and have their pictures taken while they wind their way amongst all the rows of diners.

Another threesome.

Mural on the wall in the "special" section.

The show begins. The show is the story of Empress Wu Zetian (who ruled as the only female emperor) during the Second Zhou Dynasty from 690-705.

It all begins with the court musicians taking the stage.

The main characters of the story - including the empress to be - come to the stage via the main aisle of the theatre.

Remember these girls from an earlier photo?  They are holding up the Empresses train.

The emperor and empress take the stage.

The story is told through music and dance.  I wish I had known the full story before the show.  I could only guess what troubles and trials she was going through.

As a young girl (the one in pink) she is one of the dancers entertaining the emperor.  He is behind the two dancers on the left.

Her beauty and grace catch the emperor's eye and he is moved to dance with her.

Then things turn quite dark.  She is literally thrown around by some warriors.

Some guys come to save her (Just guessing here).

The perfect pose will save the empress.

Another scene with much dancing - note the emperor lurking behind them.

Some warrior like dudes come out dancing - 

and striking a pose.

Some ribbon dances come out.  It's sort of blue.  Maybe things are not going to well for the Empress Emperor.

Some warrior dudes dance with the emperor.  Seems like the empress and the emperor are at war.

Then the flute guy comes out and plays and everything seems to calm down.  See the emperor and empress are next to each other.

They are entertained by the long-feather ladies.

Dip to the left - dip to the right.

But then there are more warriors!  Maybe it is the end for the empress.

At the end the empress ascends to the heavens.

She condescends to grace her subjects with one more look at her beautiful countenance before disappearing forever.  The End.