[originaltext]M: I hear that the make-up in Beijing opera is almost an art form

M: I hear that the make-up in Beijing opera is almost an art form in itself, isn’t it?
W: That’s true. Apart from the costumes, the characters are differentiated by their faces.
M: In what way?
W: There are four main types of character; the lead, the female lead, the painted face and the clown. Take a careful look at the actors and see ff you can tell which is which.
M: That man there -with a white nose is the clown. That beautiful girl is the female lead.
W: That’s fight. By the way, how old do you think the actress is?
M:  She looks as if she’s in her teens.
W: In fact, she is in her late forties.
M: My goodness, it’s almost unbelievable!
W: That’s where the art comes in Mei Lanfang, a very famous actor, who used to play the role of a young female lead until he was in his seventies.
M: Really? He must be an excellent actor! Well, I can’t tell which the painted face is.
W: There are actually more than one.  They paint their faces in different patterns with different colors to re- veal their characters.  Red stands for loyalty, and white for the opposite meaning, black for uprightness and integrity.
M: Yes, the make-up seems as much fun as the performance.
W: I’m glad you enjoy it.