Shaoxing Opera takes its name from the region of its birth in Zhejiang Province. Around 1906, itinerant performers began entertaining farmers with a show combining singing and stories-telling.
The stories were mostly based on local romantic folklore and sung in local dialect. Its popularity grew, and several years later, the opera found its way into theatres in bigger cities such as Shanghai and Hangzhou.
Shaoxing was an all-male production until 1923. Then a group of teenage girls from poor families were recruited and given strict training. People soon discovered just how well suited a female timbre and delicate manner were for the romantic themes. From then on, an all-women cast became a signature of Shaoxing Opera.
As for Mao Weitao, even before she knew anything about Shaoxing Opera, the child had a strong penchant for acting, especially male characters.
Mao Weitao said, “When I was watching the movie ‘A Dream of Red Mansions’, I favored male roles such as Jia Baoyu and Qi Guan against female ones like Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai. I thought it would be wonderful if I could play the handsome boys. And no one could explain this mental enigma.”
At seventeen, Mao failed the college entrance exam. But it was her great fortune to be selected for the Zhejiang Shaoxing Opera Troupe. With her mezzo-soprano and striking beauty, she had the makings of an ideal Xiaosheng.
