`MULAN' COMES TO LIFE; BEIJING OPERA BRINGS SERIOUS VERSION TO CSUN.

Byline: - Heesun Wee

THE FACTS

Messages about ``girl power'' aside, Disney's animated feature ``Mulan'' was decidedly cute. Think Mushu, the jive-talking dragon.

Now, four months after the summer film release, there's an opportunity to view a more authentic and serious representation of the tale - and you don't have to travel to China.

The Beijing Opera will perform ``Mulan, the Woman Warrior'' on Oct. 24 at CSUN as a fund-raiser for the Northridge-based San Fernando Valley Chinese Cultural Association.

The ``Mulan'' opera will star Shurui Yang, China's top opera diva and a national heroine who has performed with musical legends, including Luciano Pavarotti.

Yang, who lives in San Gabriel, said she hopes audience members won't come anticipating a live Disney, fairy-tale version of Mulan complete with Asian mysticism and a romantic interest.

Instead, the ``Mulan'' opera will focus more on Mulan's humility and her loyalty to her family and country. The legend of Mulan is based on an ancient poem about a dutiful and brave girl who disguises herself as a boy to replace her conscripted father in the Chinese Imperial army.

Keeping with Chinese tradition, the Beijing Opera will feature acrobatics and minimal dialogue, unlike European operas. But the exaggerated gestures and props help tell the tale. And although the opera will be presented in Chinese, don't worry, the story will be spelled out for you in English in the opera's program.

The opera is one of the Chinese cultural association's bigger fund-raisers. The association also will host a fund-raising banquet Friday at the Universal Hilton.

Founded in 1971, the nonprofit organization promotes Chinese culture and heritage and serves families in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. The group eventually hopes to establish a proposed $6 million Chinese Heritage Center in the San Fernando Valley. A site has not yet been selected.

The Beijing Opera also will perform ``Mulan'' at the Chao Performing Center in El Monte on Oct. 18 as another association fund-raiser.

What: ``Mulan, the Woman Warrior.''

Who: Beijing Opera.

Where: Performing Arts Center, University Student Union, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St.

When: Oct. 24.

Tickets: $30 to $50. For additional information about the opera performance and a related fund-raiser Friday in Universal City, call CSUN professors T.P. Lin at [phone] or Kwang-Nan Chow at [phone].

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Photo

Photo: The Beijing Opera will perform ``Mulan, the Woman Warrior'' on Oct. 24 at CSUN as a fund-raiser for the Northridge-based San Fernando Valley Chinese Cultural Association.

Jack Chen