吟風閣 The Pavilion of Clear Breeze
吟風閣
《吟風閣》為清朝楊潮觀所撰，其中包含短劇三十二齣，題材取自歷史與傳說，故事反映人情世態、官場廉弊。
折子戲: 罷宴
〈罷宴〉是《吟風閣》在場上搬演最廣為流傳一齣，描寫北宋名臣寇準任相州節度使時，準備在自己壽誕之日大宴賓客。府中曾侍奉先太夫人的老婦劉婆，見寇準驕奢過甚，藉口在迴廊因踩蠟油滑倒，痛哭失聲，因而思及先太夫人在世時勤儉辛苦，撫養寇準，暗示寇準勿奢侈成性。寇準聽其言，心有悔悟，吩咐罷宴。
The Pavilion of Clear Breeze
The Pavilion of Clear Breeze was written by Chaoguan Yang of the eighteenth century. The play consists of thirty two one-acts, with stories based on histories and legends that reflect the various manifestations of humanity and the sharp contrast between the integrity and corruption of the bureaucracy.
Scene: Advice on Banqueting
Advice on Banqueting has been the most popular on stage among the one-acts of The Pavilion of Clear Breeze. It depicts Kou Zhun, an eminent prime minster of the Northern Song dynasty in the tenth century, who is planning an extravagant banquet to celebrate his own birthday. Nanny Liu, who had served Kou’s mother, pretends to trip on the voluminous wax droppings which had accumulated on the ground due to the excessive burning of candles for the birthday celebration. In tears, she recounts how in the past when life was hard, Madame Kou thriftily managed the household and worked industriously to raise and educate Kou properly. Upon hearing Nanny’s words, Kou regrets his birthday plans and order the banquet to be dismissed.
