ACT+ONE.TH

**Teahouse Tableaux Vivants** **Act 1** **Group members Abhi, Alice, Daisy, TJ**

The initial conversation between Soothsayer Tang and Wang Lifa when  Soothsayer Tang first enters the teahouse. **Summary:** Soothsayer Tang grabs Wang Lifa's hand in an attempt to read his fortune; Wang Lifa moves away and offers him tea anyways while encouraging him to break his opium habit. During this time, the teahouse could afford to give away some free goods to desperate customers.
 * **scene/purpose/pg #s** || **characters/actors** || **blocking/costumes/props** ||  ||
 * **Scene:**

This conversation brings out the initial beliefs held by certain characters about  foreign influence, superstition, and opium. As it is the opening scene, it also sets the stage for the rest of the play and gives an initial impression to the  reader.  Pg 7 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Wang Lifa: Abhi <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Soothsayer Tang: TJ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Narrator: Alice || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Traditional Chinese clothing- Wang Lifa is depicted as a traditional Chinese character.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Beggar attire- the Soothsayer is extremely poor- he has dark circles around his eyes <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> due to extensive opium use. He also has a piece of paper behind his ear.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Holding Wang's hand without approval- Soothsayer Tang graps Wang Lifa's hand in <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> an attempt to 'read' his future. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">The confrontation between Erdezi and Fourth Elder Chang in the teahouse. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Summary:** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">As Erdezi and Fourth Elder Chang fight, a clear class distinction is portrayed. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Erdezi refuses to listen to the 4th elder or even Wang Lifa--however, he <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> even bows in respect when he hears Fifth Elder Ma's voice/ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Pg 9 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Erdezi: Abhinav <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Fourth Elder Chang: TJ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Wang Lifa: Alice <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Fifth Elder Ma/Narrator: Daisy || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">Erdezi stands over Fourth Elder Chang while grabbing his shirt in an attempt to <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">intimidate him. The chair is on the ground as Erdezi's emotions were highly inflamed.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Scene:**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">The teacup on the ground was pushed over by Erdezi in an act of rage.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">Firfth Elder Ma sits quietly in the background, intervening only after a while. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Second Elder Song is fascinated by a watch of foreign make presented to him by Pockface. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Summary:** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">As Pockface attempts to entice 2nd Elder Song with his foreign watch, the <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> naivety and curiosity of a certain facet of the Chinese population is depicted <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> through the character of 2nd Elder Song. In addition, the instant attraction to an <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> object simply because of its foreign nature is exposed. Fourth Elder Chang, however, is <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">unimpressed by the watch and doesn't pay much attention to it. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Pg 12-13 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">2nd Elder Song- Abhi <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Pockface- Alice <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Fourth Elder Chang: TJ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Narrator: Daisy || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">Although Second Elder Song is clearly fascinated by the watch, Fourth Elder Chang <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">maintains an indifferent composure to the situation.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Scene:**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">Pockface appears quite relaxed--he even allows Second Elder Song to keep the watch <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">and pay him back later. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">An old man walks around the teahouse trying to sell items to customers. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Summary:** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">The old man walks around the teahouse asking those present if the want to buy his items. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">However, the customers fail to even notice him. As he moves towards the inner <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">courtyard, he is stopped by Third-Born Li who informs him that a dispute is <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">being settled there and that it is better that he doesn't approach the courtyard. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Third Born-Li kindly offers him a leftover bowl of tea. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The contrast between the attention given to the man here and that given to other <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">characters (such as Eunuch Pang) establishes the clear class hierarchy that exists <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">at that period. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Pg 13 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Old Man: Abhi <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Third-Born Li: Alice <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Narrator: TJ || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">The old man is stooped due to his age (eighty-two) and clearly has trouble moving <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">around the teahouse. His clothes are old and ragged.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Scene:**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">Third Born-Li places a comforting arm on his shoulder and offers him leftover tea <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">as a sign of benevolence. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">A peasant woman and girl enter the teahouse. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Summary:** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">The scene begins with the entrance of a peasant woman and her daughter--the <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> daughter has straw through her hair indicating that she is for sale. After Qin Zhongyi orders Third-Born Li to throw them out, Fourth Elder Chang buys them two bowls of noodles with minced pork. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> The author creates sympathy through the use of the depiction of extreme levels of poverty that drives the peasant woman to attempt to sell her child. In addition, the sympathy displayed by Third-Born Li and Fourth Elder. This is an example of an act of kindness and charity during a time where poverty has not been exacerbated to the devastation in the last act. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Chang is critical to their characterization in direct contrast to the Qin Zhongyi's harsh <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">beliefs. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Peasant Woman: Alice <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Peasant Girl: Daisy <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> 4th Elder Chang: TJ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Qin Zhongyi: Abhinav <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Narrator: Alice || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">The girl has straw in her hair.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Scene:**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">Qin Zhongyi isn't even looking at the peasant woman or girl and simply ignores them.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">Qin Zhongyi is wearing expensive attire, representative of his wealth, in direct <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">contrast to those around him.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">Fourth Elder Chang is wearing respectable attire, not torn or very expensive. He looks at Third-Born Li and points to the peasants to tell him to bring them some noodles. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">As Qin Zhongyi is leaving the teahouse, he meets Eunuch Pang and strikes up a short <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">conversation with him. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Summary:** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">The conversation involves both characters generally discussing the state of affairs <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">and Qin Zhongyi's property etc. After the conversation, Eunuch Pang indicates that <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">he felt surprised that someone like Qin Zhongyi would even dare to talk to him. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">The importance of the conversation is clear as the entire stage goes quiet as <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> they listen to the conversation. The conversation provides an extremely <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> important contrast between the business class and the imperial (palace) class. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Pg 17 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Eunuch Pang- TJ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Qin Zhongyi- Abhi <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Wang Lifa- Daisy <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Pockface Liu- Alice <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px;">Narrator: Daisy || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Wang Lifa stands at attention in this scene with tea as a sign of respect. He also <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">represents the class of society that understands and respects the class hierarchy <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">that exists in that time period.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Scene:**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">The Eunuch is wearing golden robes as an indication of his relation to the emperor. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Fourth Elder Chang gets arrested by the two policemen for saying the Great Qing <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Empire is about done for. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Summary:** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Song Enzi and Wu Xiangzi arrest Foruth Elder Chang because of his statement <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">just as Fourth Elder Chang and Second Elder Song are about to leave the teahouse. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Both characters attempt to assert their loyalty to the state--however, the <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">policemen refuse to believe them. They claim that they will let Second Elder Song <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">go if he testifies against Fourth Elder Chang in court. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Pg 19 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">4th Elder Chang: TJ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;">2nd Elder Song- Abhi <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 19pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Song Enzi - Alice <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 19pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Narrator - Daisy || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Fourth Elder Chang turns around in protest and demands to know information about his arrest.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Scene:**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Second Elder Song attempts to reason with the officer.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">The officer uses a **chain** to restrain Fourth Elder Chang. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 19pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Sixth-Born Kang and his daughter (Kang Shunzi), enter the teahouse; Kang Shunzi faints <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 19pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">once she sees her future husband--the Eunuch. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">**Summary:** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Sixth-Born Kang enters the teahouse while condemning his own actions. He claims that <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">he is a beast for his actions, but argues that his hand is forced if he doesn't want his <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">daughter to starve. After Kang Shunzi faints, Eunuch Pang claims that he wants something <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">living, not a corpse. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Pg 21-22 || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 19pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Kang Shunzi - Alice <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 19pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Pockface - Abhi <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 19pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">6th born Kang - Daisy <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 19pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Eunuch Pang - TJ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;"> Narrator: Abhi || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Eunuch Pang stands above Sixth-Born Kang and his daughter, but maintains his distance from <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">them as he does not want to be associated with them as peasants.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Scene:**

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 90%;">Sixth Born Kang attempts to support his daughter as she faints. || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> || <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">**Panel Discussion** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">a. Purposes of act (TJ) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">b. Notable characters (occupations, social status, etc) (TJ) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">c. Political issues of the time period (Alice) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">d. Control and treatment of others (Abhi) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">e. Negotiation (Abhi) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">f. Success and failure (Alice) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">g. Change/adaption/modernization/ reform vs tradition (Daisy) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">h. Threats and promises (Daisy) <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">i. Foreigner presence and influence (Abhi)