Overlook the occasionally awkward transition when one actor replaces another in a major role - it is a shared school experience, after all - and Kennedy Theatre's English-language production of “;The White Snake”; is a must-see celebration of traditional Chinese opera.

The story is one of many about a love affair between a mortal man and a beautiful woman who is, in fact, a supernatural being. This version was written shortly after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, where the arts are often used as platforms for political statements. A story attacking Confucius is understood to be an attack on some contemporary political leader, or characters inspired by an online role-playing game become icons in a protest against Internet censorship. Is it significant then that the villain in this story is a powerful Buddhist monk?

The monk, Fa Hai, will stop at nothing to destroy Bai Suzhen. He calls her a “;snake demon”; who has taken human form and married a mortal.

It doesn't matter to Fa Hai that Bai has risked her life to save her husband, Xu Xian, from death. Fa Hai tricks Xu Xian into entering a monastery, holds him prisoner and orders his divine army to kill the pregnant snake-woman.

Can true love prove stronger than religious dogma?

Noteworthy individual performances add entertainment value and make the production a delight to watch.

THE EXPRESSIVE and physically impressive performance of Michelle Boudreau (Bai Suzhen No. 2) dominates the middle third of the story. Complications arise when the snake-in-human-form is forced to drink a cup of wine that could force her to reveal her true form; in Boudreau's performance we see a range of emotions. She combines dance, gymnastics and stage combat choreography in scenes during which Bai battles immortal guardian spirits to get the “;spirit grass”; she needs to save Xu Xian's life, then fights Fa Hai's army.

Boudreau earned applause during her combat scene with the guardian spirits and again during a longer battle with the divine army. D'neka Patten (Green Child No. 2) also earned applause for her fluid execution of the combat choreography during the battle.

Donald Quilinquin (Xu Xian No. 1) gave an engaging comic performance as a young man so virtuous and innocent that it takes him a while to figure out that he has a chance with the mysterious maiden he meets while traveling.

Yang Ming (Fa Hai) personified malevolence throughout the opening-night performance on Friday (Ming returns in the role on Thursday).

James Schirmer (Hu Fa Shen) displayed show-stopping athletic prowess as a club-wielding leader of the divine army; he capped one battle sequence by slowly sinking down to a “;split”; position and then rising. It was an impressive feat indeed!

Matthew Xi Mao Toyama (Turtle General) was another audience favorite as the comic but resilient leader of the White Snake's “;water spirit”; army. Futoshi Terashita (Qian Lan) also had a number of stellar moments in the big battle scenes.