Got real curious ’bout how Peking Opera works behind the scenes, right? Saw Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company had this “Cao Cao” show. Thought, why not peek backstage? Heard it’s tough to get in, but figured what the hell.
Fast forward a week, somehow sweet-talked my way past a grumpy stagehand – promised I wouldn’t touch anything. Stepped through that heavy curtain, boom! Instant sensory overload.
The backstage chaos hits you first:
- Costumes everywhere! Massive, embroidered robes hanging like walls of glitter. Nearly tripped over a pile of boots with those thick platform soles. Someone yelled, “Careful!” as I stumbled.
- Makeup magic. Saw a dude sitting dead still while an artist painted intricate patterns on his face. Used tiny brushes. Looked painful, holding his face stiff like that for ages. Smelled like greasepaint and powder – kinda weird.
- People scrambling. Performers buzzing around, half-dressed, half in makeup. One guy just in his unders was holding a spear doing lunges. Weird. Others warming up vocals – strange, high-pitched wails bouncing off concrete walls. Couldn’t even hear myself think. Bumped into another person backing up – “Sorry! Sorry!” yelled over the noise.
- Tools of the trade. Props littered every surface. Helmets with pompoms, swords that looked flimsy up close, weird wooden boxes people kept stepping on. Jammed my phone trying to get a pic of a giant painted flag all folded up – someone bumped me again.
Found this tiny spot crammed behind a rack of costumes to watch the actual stage. Had to crane my neck. Could see legs shuffling under the curtains, stagehands crouched low, ready to push stuff on. When Cao Cao finally strutted on, man… different beast seeing it from here.
Saw him take his dramatic pose facing the audience, all regal and villainous. Then, just for a split second, he flicked his eyes back our way – caught someone’s signal. Total poker face snapped back to the crowd. The sweat pouring down his neck under all that makeup? Yeah, didn’t look too fun.
Biggest takeaway? It’s like watching organized panic. Everything happens fast. Someone rips off a layer of costume mid-stride near the wings, practically throwing it at an assistant. Another guy chugs water from a bottle held by someone else – can’t smudge the paint, you know? Loud whisper-shouts fly back and forth for cues. Pure adrenaline pumping behind the beautiful show.
Snuck back out when they weren’t looking after Cao Cao’s big exit, sweating buckets himself. Whole thing felt way more real than just watching the pretty front. Still glad I didn’t pay for front-row seats – the screaming kids and old folks rattling candy wrappers? Nope – just to see Cao Cao sweat.
Was it magical? Nah. Was it loud, cramped, sweaty, and kinda nuts? You betcha. But knowing all that chaos makes the smooth singing and fighting on stage seem even more impossible. They earn every damn clap, fighting their own battle back there all damn day.
