The Monkey King’s Three Attacks on the White Skeleton Demon

    Adapted from an episode in the novel Journey to the West, this play describes one of the mythical exploits of the Monkey King as he accompanies Monk Tang westwards on a pilgrimage to seek Buddhist sutras.  One of the enemies they encounter is the White Skeleton Demon, who changes her form three times in order to deter Monk Tang from his mission. The Monday King sees through all her metamorphoses but Monk Tang is taken in by the demon’s whiles and comes close to losing his life.  In the end, Monk Tang finally discovers the truth and learns a lesson.  The story is a tribute to the Monkey King’s devotion to Monk Tang, to his bravery in combating evil, and to his intelligence and persistence in the face of danger.