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Sun Zhengyang, Yan Qinggu agree to differ about saving the clown's craft; famous clown actor to promote Beijing opera with a trendy dance
Category: Beijing opera news Author: Zhuang Congzhou Release date: 2010-3-23 afternoon 02:39:05 Pagehits: 132
The traditional opera profession has a "any play without clowns won't do" saying. The clown role's purpose is essential, like licorice in medicine. But among the character categories (生旦净末丑 = junior males; females; painted faces aka warriors/demons; senior males; clowns), the clown is ranked last. Shanghai Beijing Opera Theater's famous clown actor Yan Qinggu disclosed yesterday that the clown role is going to a leading character in a forthcoming tailor-made performance. But to the journalists' surprise, this show is to be unusually marketed. Frolicking 'flash-mob'-style in commercial areas, the performers will dance 'NOBODY' en masse (note: 'NOBODY' is Korean group WONDERGIRLS's trendsetting dance). This kind of promotion is surprising: is it still Beijing opera? Elderly octogenarian & famous clown actor Sun Zhengyang, in typically Old Guard rigor, lamented to reporters yesterday: "Let the young people know that our Beijing opera is a good thing, but some methods must [also] change."
New-wave clown actors to dance 'Nobody' en masse
Sun Zhengyang is taking on more roles from opera highlights this time. He was hale & hearty in yesterday's interview, expressing great excitement for the special performance: "Up to now, I seem not to have handled a tailor-made clown show. I must properly prepare to guide the kids." Sun Zhengyang revealed that he will perform 打城隍, 打花鼓 which have not been staged for many years. "They are very difficult, involving singing & 'fighting'. During rehearsal a few days ago, several youngsters were grasping for breath in just 10 minutes."
Middle-generation clown actor Yan Qinggu said that opera fans know about clown roles, [albeit] akin to green leaves. "Now the leaves have become a little yellower. This show is timely." As for such an unconventional promotion, Yan Qinggu laughed, "This will precisely eliminate misconceptions among the audience. Those who come to watch Beijing opera can do it slaphappy." It is understood that Yang Qinggu shall perform a English version of 搜孤救孤. To utter script lines like "HONEY, DON'T BE ANGRY!" in a foreign accent, out of the mouth of a tofu-faced clown actor, will naturally be very amusing.
A Beijing Opera theater associate told reporters that the clown actors will appear in downtown areas come early April. They will wear the opera facial makeup & costumes, materialize in crowded public places to present a 'Beijing opera-related' performance-art item. They will also capitalize on the globally-popular 'NOBODY' dance. Subsequently, they will speedily scatter like a flash mob, [thus] "maximizing the mystery." But evidently, the Old Guard artistes have reservations with this approach.
Old Guard worries about losing the repertoire
Although this kind of promotion excites the younger performers, the Old Guard is still a little critical. Sun Zhengyang pointed at the performance flyers yesterday & said, "Can we change this 'King of Comedy' headline? I feel it is not suitable." Sun the elder stated that everybody knows the clown's craft is hard & that the modern-day reality is also hard. But to proclaim kings & coronets is taboo in the traditional opera profession. Sun Zhengyang then grudgingly said, "Shanghai Beijing Opera Theater's 2 troupes have less than 10 clown actors combined. Every show has a clown role onstage. None of the kids have time to properly manage his performance."
Among the younger generation, budding lead performer Hao Jie admitted yesterday that he has never ever heard of many of the shows. Sun Zhengyang said many clown-oriented classics like 打樱桃, 打砂锅 are in danger of being lost to history. Sun the elder was candid: "With some arias, I can no longer recall myself. How to pass on to the next generation?" This Old Guard artiste then conscientiously told the opera theater staff, "Can't have those gimmicks. 'King of Comedy,' 'A laugh a minute', let's change them if we can. After all, we must not hoodwink visitors into the theater!"
(Left photo: Sun Zhengyang Right photo: Yan Qinggu)
Excerpt from 'Labor Daily" Author: Zhuang Congzhou
Source: http://www.pekingopera.sh.cn/detail.asp?pzlid=2969
credits:qoxie @ wgspectacle
~This seems to be a wonder girls flashmob where they dance to nobody... the article seemed to be a bit confusing and long
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