Synopsis

Prologue

Xiao Qing, a female green grass snake, appears.  Accompanied by the chorus, she tells us the story of her mistress, Madame White Snake, the venomous white snake demon who longed to experience love.

Act 1

At the Broken Bridge

Madame White Snake has meditated for one thousand years in order to gain human form so that she might experience love.  This morning, she wakes on the Broken Bridge, at last transformed into a beautiful woman. She sings the praises of her new body to Xiao Qing until she sees a man approach. As soon as their eyes meet, they feel an intense passion for each other.  After he passes, Madame White commands Xiao Qing to bring him back to her, and Xiao Qing conjures a heavy rainstorm that causes the man to return and share his umbrella with Madame White.  The man leaves the umbrella with her, and she urges him to come to her home to pick it up later. He agrees and leaves, while Xiao Qing and the chorus pray for the fate of Madame White and the unsuspecting mortal with whom she has fallen in love.

Act 2

Scene 1:  At Madame White's Home

Later in the day, Madame White waits impatiently for Xiao Qing to return with news of the mysterious man.  Xiao Qing reveals his background and his name: Xu Xian. She begs her mistress not to pursue him, warning her that a union between a mortal and a snake demon can end only in disaster.  Nevertheless, Madame White orders Xiao Qing to bring Xu Xian to her immediately, which she does.   Madame White serves him a special, homemade tea and the two confess their feelings for each other.  Xu Xian proposes marriage.  Madame White agrees, on one condition:  she must leave Xu Xian for one night each month, accompanied only by Xiao Qing. He must never ask her where she goes.  Hesitant but overcome with love, Xu Xian agrees. 

Scene 2

Madame White and Xu Xian make passionate love. Witnessing the transformation of Madame White from ferocious warrior into tender wife and lover, Xiao Qing questions the power of love, and whether it can last forever.

Act 3

Outside Madame White's Home

Abbot Fahai, a religious man who has sought nirvana through a devotion to love for one thousand years, arrives in search of the lovers.  Madame White encounters Abbot Fahai, who sees through her human form, recognizing her instantly as a snake.  Fahai accuses her of using witchcraft to force Xu Xian to fall in love her.  He realizes that intervening in their love will either allow him to cross the threshold to nirvana, or bring him farther away than he has ever been.  So too, Madame White realizes that her own nirvana — her new-found love — may soon be cruelly snatched from her.

Xu Xian enters and Fahai asks him if he knows who his wife really is, a question which unleashes all of Xu Xian's pent-up doubts and insecurities. He confronts Madame White, who urges him to calm himself and trust her — if not for her sake, at least for the sake of the child she will soon bear him. Her evasiveness drives him so mad with jealousy that he accuses Madame White of keeping another lover.  Consumed by anger and doubt, Xu Xian leaves his wife in search of the truth at the Golden Mountain Monastery.

Act 4

Scene 1:  At the Golden Mountain Monastery

After a treacherous journey, Xu Xian reaches his destination.  He asks Abbot Fahai for help in uncovering the truth about his wife.  The Abbot hesitates to reveal Madame White's true identity until he hears that she is pregnant.  Horrified by the notion that a white snake demon might bear a child, he gives Xu Xian a powerful potion, but warns him to take great care when using it.

Scene 2:  At the Broken Bridge

Miserable in the absence of Xu Xian, Madame White walks outside on the bridge, and finally resolves to reveal her true identity to her husband.  Xu Xian returns and presents her with the potion, telling her it is an herbal brew for the wellbeing of her baby.  Madame White understands that her husband has lied to her, and that the love they had once shared is now lost.  She drinks the potion.  As she sinks to the floor, she is transformed once more into a snake.

Epilogue

Fierce and mighty, Madame White Snake battles the Abbot, who holds Xu Xian's soul in his custody.  Her angry tears unleash a lethal flood which drowns the village entirely.   When the battle ends, only Xiao Qing is left to deliver the final epitaph.