Red Detachment of Women

About the show

Place: Yelinzhai ("Stronghold of the coconut woods"), Hainan Island, China Time: The Ten-Year Civil War (1927-1937) Main Characters: Hong Changqing (洪常青), Commissar of the Red Detachment of Women, disguised as a merchant Wu Qinghua (吳清華) - daughter of a peasant and servant girl of NanBatian, later a soldier, and finally the Commissar Lian Zhang (连长), literally the Company Commander Xiao Pang (小庞)," Little Pang the Messenger NanBatian (南霸天) - lit "the Tyrant of the South", a despotic landlord Ou Guangsi (Lao Si) (老四) - NanBatian's Lackey In his dungeon, Nanbatian, the despotic landlord, has imprisoned his tenants who are unable to pay their exorbitant rents. Wu Qinghua, daughter of a poor peasant, is chained to a column. Lao Si comes with the order of Nanbatian to sell Wu. Lao Si releases Wu from the chain. While Lao Si is in an unguarded moment, Wu kicks him, and he loses his balance and falls. Wu manages to escape while two other inmates hold Lao Si to the ground. Major numbers: Pas de deux of two inmates Immediately after the prologue. Night has fallen in the coconut forest and Wu Qinghua is desperately running away from Lao Si and his lackeys. She is soon recaptured. Nanbatian and his entourage arrive. The Tyrant whips Wu until she loses consciousness. A thunderstorm approaches, so Nanbatian and his followers leave and Wu is left for dead. Hong Changqing, the Commissar, and Xiao Pang, the Messenger, who are on a reconnaissance mission in disguise, pass by. They save Wu and point her the way to the camp of the Red Army. Major numbers: Dance of Lao Si and his lackeys Wu Qinghua's Solo No. 1 Wu Qinghua's fight with Lao Si Wu Qinghua's fight with Nanbatian Group dance of slaves Wu Qinghua's Solo No. 2 Pas de trois of Hong Changqing, Wu Qinghua and Xiao Pang In the camp of the Red Army beside the Wanquan River, a newly formed Detachment of Women is being trained. Wu Qinghua arrives to meet Hong Changqing and Xiao Pang, who introduce her to others. In a solo dance, Wu tells the Red Army soldiers the enormity of Nanbatian's crimes. She then ceremoniously receives a rifle and is accepted as a member of the Women's Detachment. With determination, they plan to liberate the peasants and slave girls under the oppression of Nanbatian. Major numbers: Group dance of the Detachment members Rifle drill of the Detachment members Hong Changqing's bayonet dance Group bayonet dance of the Detachment members A young women soldier's solo Five-inch dagger dance of the Red Guards Group dance of all Wu Qinghua's solo In the luxurious manor of Nanbatian, an extravagant birthday celebration for the Tyrant is going on in the garden before his house. Mountains of gifts are brought in; visitors are arriving, Li girls are driven in with whips at their backs to dance for the guests. Hong Changqing, disguised as a wealthy merchant from Southeast Asia, arrives on the scene, calm and dignified, to congratulate Nanbatian on his birthday. Meanwhile, the members of the Women's Detachment have secretly gathered around the manor of the Tyrant. It has been agreed that Hong is to fire his gun at midnight as signal for the Detachment to break in to wipe out the Tyrant and his gang in one fell swoop. At night, all people recede into the houses. Nanbatian comes out to see some of his guests off. Overcome by deep personal hatred, Wu Qinghua shoots Nanbatian, prematurely issuing the battle signal. Nanbatian is merely wounded and escapes from a secret tunnel with a few of his lackeys. Nanbatian's prisons are opened, and the prisoners are liberated. Hong leads them in opening the granary of the Tyrant and distributing the grain. Wu is reprimanded for her blunder, and her gun is removed from her. Major numbers: Group dance of slaves Li Girls' dance Broadsword dance of Nanbatian's lackeys Xiao Pang's solo Pas de deux of Wu Qinghua and her comrade-in-arm Opening the granary and distributing grain Back in the camp of the Red Army. Hong Changqing, the Commissar, is giving a lecture to the soldiers in the early morning. Wu Qinghua comes to grips with her mistake. Hong and the Company Commander are pleased to see Wu's progress. The Company Commander returns the gun to her, and together they practice marksmanship and grenade throwing. The local people visit the Red Army and present them with doulis and lichees. Suddenly, the sound of cannons is heard and Xiao Pang, the Messenger, arrives on horseback with the information that Nanbatian has assembled a large number of troops, and they are on their way to attack the base of the Red Army. The members of the Detachment immediately bid goodbye to their dear ones and set out to the battle field. Major numbers: Hong Changqing's solo Group dance of the soldiers Wu Qinghua's solo Pas de deux of Wu Qinghua and Company Commander No. 1 Dance of five female soldiers and the head cook Douli Dance Pas de deux of Wu Qinghua and Company Commander No. 2 Dance of Hong Changqing and male soldiers Group dance of all On the battlefield at a mountain pass. In order to annihilate the enemy's effective power, the main force of the Red Army strategically shifts to the rear of the enemy, and the Company Commander leads most of the members of the Detachment in moving away with the main force. Hong Changqing and a small group of Red Army soldiers and Red Guards form a covering force to divert the enemy. After a series of fierce fights, the goal is achieved. As they prepare to withdraw, the enemy starts yet another attack. Hong gives his portfolio to Wu Qinghua and orders her and other members to retreat while he and only two other soldiers stay behind to fend off the enemy. Hong's two comrades-in-arms are killed and he himself is captured. Major numbers: Dance of Wu Qinghua and other soldiers Wu Qinghua's fight with an enemy Fight between two soldiers and two enemies Red flag dance Dance of Hong Changqing and two comrades-in-arm Dance of Hong Changqing and two enemies The main force of the Red Army is pressing forward with the momentum of an avalanche. Their group dance. A memorable moment in the entr'acte is the precisely synchronized grand jete of the Red Army soldiers crossing the stage in a seemingly endless line, vividly suggesting they are as fast as an arrow flying in the air. Major numbers: Group dance of the Red Army soldiers Sequence of synchronized grand jeté In the lair of the Tyrant, Nanbatian and his lackeys are panic-stricken knowing that their end is approaching. The Tyrant runs out all his means to force Hong Changqing to surrender, but the Commissar vehemently denounces the enemy. Nanbatian threatens Hong with death, but the hero remains steadfast. At the end, Hong is burnt in a horrid fire under the giant banyan tree amidst a chorus of the Internationale, and he dies a martyr's death. The main force of the Red Army has won their battle with the enemy. They storm the hideout of the Tyrant and kill him and his lackeys. The Red Army emancipates Nanbatian's prisoners and Yelinzhai is liberated. Wu Qinghua and the Company Commander look everywhere for Hong and find the truth. They all kneel in front of the place where Hong has died to pay their respects to the hero. The Red Army Battalion Commander announces that Wu will succeed Hong as the Commissar of the Women's Detachment. Wu takes over Hong's portfolio, and she and her comrades-in-arm will continue their revolutionary cause. Major numbers: Dance of Nanbatian and Lao Si Hong Changqing's solo Hong Changqing dying a martyr's death Red Army's assault on Nanbatian's lair Celebration of liberation Pas de deux of Wu Qinghua and Company Commander Mourning the martyr Group dance and the tableau vivant at the end