Beijing, May 12: Variety Show at the Laoshe Teahouse
After dinner we went to the Laoshe Teahouse. As we entered, we were shown through a number of sumptuously decorated rooms, with elegant tea services. We were then seated in the teahouse’s theater, to see a lively and very entertaining variety show, which included a combination of Beijing opera, comedy, and acrobatic acts. During the show we were served tea in dramatic style (right).
Variety Show at the Laoshe Teahouse
Some scenes from the variety show’s many acts are shown here, including music, Beijing opera, stand-up comedy, and dance. At bottom left, an acrobat on a unicycle repeatedly tossed brass bowls from her foot so that they landed in a nest on top of her head. At bottom right, a costumed performer presented a lot of different masks while dancing. Each change of mask was seemingly instantaneous, with just a quick jerk of the performer’s head.
