Two familiar epic tales, Farewell My Concubine and King Lear, are due to be staged this month at UC Davis -- each in the exotic context of Chinese opera, with its unique singing, movement, costumes and martial arts, with music performed by a live orchestra.

The productions by the Contemporary Legend Theatre of Taiwan are scheduled for 8 p.m. May 17 and 18 in Jackson Hall at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

A news release describes Farewell My Concubine, to be performed May 17, as "a moving story of love and devotion between a Chinese king and his favorite concubine during the Warring States period, which ran from approximately 500 B.C. until the country was unified in 221 A.D."

In Contemporary Legend's King Lear, set for May 18, Wu Hsing-kuo is the only performer. The singer, actor and movement artist plays 10 characters.