"It (Peking Opera) embraces many of the essential aspects of the Chinese culture," said Xia Yuanhui, director of Overseas Liaison Department in Shanghai Opera School. "No wonder foreign friends in the city are fascinated by it."

"Compared with local people, some expats in the city have much more enthusiasm. Sometimes their zeal touches me," Xia said.

A young Japanese man surnamed Tamura was the first expat to learn Peking Opera in Shanghai, Xia said.

The role Tamura yearned to learn was wusheng, the role of a young male martial arts master. Tamura worked hard at the school for three years. By the time he left for the US to further his studies, he could perform four acts of one play, Xia said.

"It was Chen Kaige's movie 'Farewell, My Concubine' that first inspired my passion for learning the art," said Soeishi, who was also a lover of Chinese movies.

"I had learned Japanese folk dance in my hometown in Japan, so I chose the course teaching acrobatic fighting and dancing of wudan (young female character capable of martial arts)," Soeishi said.

"Soeishi has the talent for performing the art, though she hasn't learned it for long," Xia said.

The film "Farewell, My Concubine" also inspired Brandi McDonald's love for the art.

To people who do not know Peking Opera, McDonald would tell them, "It is the equivalent of an American musical, a combination of ballet, Italian opera and Chinese folk music.

Elizabeth Wichmann, dean of her department, is the first foreigner to come to China with the intention of learning the art.

"Shen Xiaomei, the last student of master Mei Lanfang, taught Wichmann and Wichmann became my mentor at university," McDonald said proudly.

Before graduation, Wichmann directed the play "Si Lang Tan Mu" in Hawaii.

The story is about a young general who was captured in a rival country and later married to a princess. He strives to return home to see his mother. McDonald acted as the empress dowager, the mother-in-law of Silang.

"The play made me decide to come to China to learn more of Peking Opera," McDonald said.

McDonald has already performed on stage, acting as the role of White Snake in 'Broken Bridge" one episode of "Legend of the White Snake."

"Compared with some of my Chinese students, McDonald is more diligent and her learning attitude is excellent," said Lu Yiping, the McDonald's current mentor and former actress in the Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe.

McDonald said Lu is very patient and caring. "She is just like my mom, she always asks me to put on more clothes in case of cold," says McDonald, smiling.

McDonald is now rehearsing for the complete play "Legend of White Snake Fairy', which will be staged in June.

(Shanghai Star 06/01/2001)