Peking Opera has a history of more than 200 years, and its circulation in Changzhou has also been more than 100 years.
The original Peking Opera organization in Changzhou was the "box office" organized by amateur Peking Opera enthusiasts. In the late Qing Dynasty, there were some Kun, Yi enthusiasts and qu science researchers in Changzhou. Among them, the most accomplished one is Zhao Zijing (号逸叟), which is said to be "a flute in Changzhou". He has an excellent singing voice and can make his debut. In the early years of the Republic of China, he entered Beijing and organized drama clubs such as the "Speech Music Society" in Kyoto (Beijing), and carefully trained famous performing artists such as Han Shichang. Later, there will be Jiang Junjia, Wang Jianyi and other famous fans.
Jiang Junjia and Mei Lanfang
There are many "box office" in Changzhou, the earlier ones are the "Sound and Sound Society" created in the 1930s, and the "Bin He Society", "Long Yin Society" and "Long Cheng Society" have a greater impact later. "Bin He She" (its predecessor was "Bin She") was founded during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, originally located in Mopanqiao, the president Wu Ziyong, composed of some capitalists and senior employees. The society is neat and well-organized, and has hired famous artists such as Rui Debao and Zhao Huanan as teachers. The main actors are Jiao Yinsong (Cheng Pai), Huang Kebao (Mei Pai), Fei Xinlian (Ma Pai), Zhang Hongsheng (Qi Pai), Jia Jianda and others, and some have become quite famous actors after "going to the sea". The repertoire of the performance includes "Lost Space Chop", "Baolian Lantern", "Three Niang Godson", "Hong Yang Cave", "Search for Orphans and Rescue Orphans", "Dragon and Phoenix Chengxiang" and so on. "Long Yin Society" (its predecessor is "Qingfeng Society") was founded in 1948, the original site is in Ximen Shilongzui, mainly grain bank employees, there are Zhou Gengyu, Ding Wushun and other actors, often perform "Jinshui Bridge", "Fishing and Killing Family", "Fight Yan Song", "Yutang Chun", "Wujiapo" and other plays.
"Longcheng Society" was established after the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and its original site was in the canteen of the former Municipal Party Committee, and its president, Jiang Junjia. Jiang Junjia's uncle Jiang Weiqiao also loved Peking Opera, and through the relationship of Emperor Xuantong's brother Pu Dong, he worshiped the famous Dantian Guifeng and others as his teachers. Once, when Jiang Junjia performed "Filial Piety Festival" ("Sacrifice to the Yangtze River"), the Peking Opera master Chen Delin praised him: "Okay!" So he accepted him as a disciple. Since then, Jiang Junjia has been famous in Kyoto for his crisp and sweet voice.
Jiang Junjia
After liberation, "Changzhou Amateur Peking Opera Society" and "Yousheng Society" and other drama clubs were established, often performing plays such as "Catching and Releasing Cao" and "Wu JiaPo".
These "box offices" in Changzhou have made meritorious contributions in preserving and carrying forward the excellent traditions of Peking Opera art and in cultivating talents.
Changzhou's professional Peking Opera group is Changzhou Peking Opera Troupe, its predecessor is called Changzhou Red Star Peking Opera Troupe. The regiment was founded in 1935 and named "Wanshengtang", and the class leader Jiang Jinhong. Jiang Jinhong was born in Changzhou in 1916, his father Jiang Yinshan was a singing rack flower face, and died of illness in 1934, so Jiang Jinhong regrouped the class. Due to the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan and Jiang Jinhong's lack of management experience, in less than two years, the "Wanshengtang" was disbanded, and the remaining sixteen people took refuge in the Area of Sidunzi in Northern Jiangsu to make a living by performing small plays such as "Exploring the Cold Kiln", and almost died halfway. Soon, sixteen people returned to Changzhou and performed in Beixiang, Xishiqiao, and Yixing Zhangzhu Mountains. When performing in the mountains, because the Japanese Kou often swept away, the troupe hid in the ravine during the day, and came out at night to perform for the New Fourth Army and the vast number of peasants, and the New Fourth Army not only protected the safety of the actors, but also often went on stage to offer condolences.
After 1944, the troupe organized the "center stage", which was quite large at this time. The main actors are Jiao Pengzhi (Chang Yi), Li Youchun (red face), Fan Chunlou (Wusheng), Liu Zhihai (Laosheng), Kang Huiqiu (Hua Dan), Wang Shaolou (Wusheng), Lü Junqiao (Laosheng) and others, often performing "Luosiyu", "Jiujiangkou", "Na Ling Noisy Sea" and other plays.
In the old society, the majority of cast members had no status in politics and were discriminated against; Life is precarious and very difficult. Many actors are exhausted in their lives, and in addition to acting, they can also run small traders and hawkers to make a living. Due to the small number of actors and simple equipment in the troupe, they often perform on the village temple platform or square, commonly known as the "grass platform class". The performance repertoire focuses on martial arts, the performance style is relatively rough, and the stage atmosphere is hot and warm.
On April 23, 1949, when Changzhou was liberated, the troupe was in Yaoguan Lane, and the cast and crew guided the way for the army heading south. In order to celebrate the victory, the troupe immediately went to the city to perform in the Changzhou Grand Theater and Yiyuan. After liberation, the party and the people's government gave tremendous support and care to the Peking Opera Troupe, which was in the midst of turmoil at that time, immediately dispatched cadres to the troupe to assist in its work, gradually readjusted its institutions, established various systems, established and developed party and regiment organizations, changed people and dramas, suspended some repertoire with reactionary content and low artistic level, and actively rehearsed new plays.
In November 1950, the Changzhou Peking Opera Troupe was officially established, formerly known as the Hongji Peking Opera Troupe, and initially known as the Changzhou Red Star Peking Opera Troupe. In July 1951, it was subordinated to the Changzhou Special District Literary Association and renamed the Changzhou Special District Literary Union Red Star Peking Opera Troupe. In March 1953, the branch was established, and at the end of the year, it was renamed Changzhou Red Star Peking Opera Troupe. Registered in Changzhou in May 1955. In June, the branch was registered in Taizhou City, renamed Taizhou Red Star Peking Opera Troupe, and renamed Changzhou Red Star Peking Opera Troupe at the end of the year. In 1959, the Changzhou Peking Opera House was established, with one and two regiments under it, owned by the whole people, and withdrawn in 1962, and was originally named Changzhou Peking Opera Troupe, collective ownership. In 1963, it set up its own academy, enrolling 29 students and 10 teachers. In 1984, a five-story building of the Regiment Headquarters was built on Qingtan Road, with a construction area of 2385 square meters.
Over the years, he has successively organized the vast number of cast members and staff to participate in various major political movements, conscientiously studied the party's various principles and policies, studied Mao Zedong's literary and artistic thought, and enhanced the political and ideological consciousness of all personnel. Troupes often go up the mountains and go to the countryside, go deep into the countryside, the troops, and the factories, and perform for the vast number of workers, peasants, and soldiers. In the early days, the troupe took southern Jiangsu and Hangjiahu as its main performance bases, and moved to rural market towns for a long time. After that, the performance city gradually expanded, extending to Jiangxi, Anhui, Shandong and other places.
Jing Jianpeng
After the liberation, the troupe once gathered talents and performed of high quality, which had a great influence in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. At that time, famous actors who came to perform in the class were Huang Guiqiu (Hua Dan), Li Huifang (Hua Dan), Tong Zhiling (Hua Dan), Zhou Xinfang (Lao Sheng), Gai Mingtian (Wu Sheng), Zhang Meijuan (Dao Ma Dan), Wang Quanfang (Wu Sheng), Ming Yukun (Lao Sheng), Wang Menglan (Hua Dan) and others, performing "Four Jie Village", "Changsaka Slope", "Chasing Han Xin", "Chopping Scripture Hall", "Running City" and other plays.
In the meantime, in 1951, the famous female warrior Jing Jianpeng entered the troupe, and before entering the regiment, Jing Jianpeng accompanied his father Jing Yutang (Xiao Ajin) to form a class "Qingsheng Stage" and performed in the area of Hangjia Lake. In 1956, the famous sword Ma Dan Bai Yuyan entered the regiment. Their performances of "Lok Ma Lake" and "The Woman of the Wild River" enjoy a high reputation among the audience.
Bai Yuyan
Judging from the performances of the group, the troupe often performs in Changzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, Jintan, Liyang, Yixing and other places in southern Jiangsu, as well as in rural mobile performances. Because this area is a water network area, the costumes and props used for the performance are installed on wooden boats, usually one boat for the class owner, one boat for the stage board and clothing box, and several boats for the cast and crew, so as to form a small fleet of boats, passing through the rivers and lakes.
The arrangement of the drama is generally the opening of the old student drama, followed by the martial arts drama, the old life drama, the long dependent martial arts drama, the most important axis drama is placed in the middle, mostly the whole Huadan drama. Finally, it ends with "three small plays" (Xiaosheng, Xiaodan, and Clown).
Liantai Ben Opera is a popular form of drama that is popular with the masses, and the Changzhou Peking Opera Troupe has always been known for performing Liantai Ben Opera. He has rehearsed plays such as "Qianlong Emperor Under the Jiangnan", "HongbiYuan", "Seven Heroes and Five Righteousness", "The Lady of the Wild River", "Shui po Liangshan" and other plays, in 1957, "List of Fengshen Gods" was performed for half a year when it was performed at the Jinling Theater in Nanjing, and the audience reacted very strongly.
At the beginning of liberation, inheriting the tradition of the Peking Opera waterway class, he often performed Liantai Ben opera, as well as the repertoire of "Qianlong Biography" (13 books), "Hua Bilian" (13 books), "Shui Po Liang Shan" (19 books), "Lady of the Wild River" (6 books), "List of Fengshen Gods" (7 books), etc., counting 12 parts and 82 books. In 1953, he selected part of the content of "Shui Po Liang Shan" and edited and performed "Three Dozen Zhujiazhuang" with reference to the Beijing Rongbao Zhai Ben. The performance of this play lasted for more than 30 years, and four generations of actors participated in the performance, four into Shanghai, and the performance lasted for a long time.
In the 1950s, he also created and adapted plays such as "Li Chuang Wang", "White Haired Girl", "Tang Jingchuan Annihilation", "Battle Canal", "Zhao Yiman" and so on. In the 1960s, he created and adapted a number of modern dramas such as "Fenshui Long Stream", "Little Football Team", "On the Sea Defense Line", "Jiao Yulu", "Gun Repair" and so on.
Li Xiannian and other state leaders received actors from the Changzhou Peking Opera Troupe
In December 1953, the troupe entered Shanghai for the first time to perform the first batch of plays of "Three Dozen Zhujiazhuang", which lasted for 7 months until July 1954, and xinmin evening newspaper published five articles to evaluate the troupe and the repertoire. In March 1957, he performed the play "Fengshen List" in Nanjing Star Theater for half a year.
Li Ruihuan received the actors of the Changzhou Peking Opera Troupe in Beijing
In the 1950s, the troupe also conducted extensive artistic exchanges, performing on stage with Gai Mingtian, Zhou Xinfang, and Xin Yanqiu. In April 1957, plays such as "Seven Star Temple", "Truncated River Battle", "Taibai Drunken Writing", "Mangzhongshan", "Qiqiao Jinlu" and other plays participated in the first opera observation performance in Jiangsu Province, Bai Yuyan and Jing Jianpeng won the first prize for actors, and Tao Wenjuan, Ming Yukun, Wang Quanfang, Sun Penglin, Guan Song'an, Tao Sujuan, Wang Huizhou and Tang Yunlou won the second prize for actors. In 1958, Tang Yunlou and Liu Zhiheng went to perform with the Shanghai Peking Opera House in Eastern European countries. In 1959, "Sun Shangxiang" (adapted by Jin Shihe, starring Xie Hongwen) participated in the Zhenjiang Special District Professional Theater Troupe performance, won the first prize for the script and the first prize for the performance. In order to carry forward the art of the Peking Opera genre, since 1961, Ming Yukun and Sun Penglin have successively worshiped Zhou Xinfang as teachers, Bai Yuyan and Wang Menglan have visited Gu Shenbo as teachers, Chen Meilan has worshiped Xun Huisheng as a teacher, and Yang Xiaoqin has worshiped Du Jinfang as a teacher. The modern drama "Repair gun" (collective creation, starring Ming Yukun) has participated in two Jiangsu Provincial Drama Performances in 1965 and 1977. In 1977, he created "The Little Knife Club", which was premiered in Qishuyan, and more than 20 troupes from all over the country sent actors to observe it, and successively transplanted performances. In October 1979, in order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the whole troupe organized an exhibition of Peking Opera genres, and many veteran actors performed their best plays. In August 1980, he participated in the Changzhou Professional Theater Troupe Youth Association, and Liu Quan, Yang Xiaoqin, Sun Qiqing and Dong Minghua won the first prize. In 1981, he resumed the form of stage performance with well-known actors, and performed jointly with Zhang Xuejin and Wang Mengyun of the Shanghai Peking Opera House. In 1984, he created the newly edited ancient drama "Hong Peiyu" (screenwriter Yan Yanlan, starring Sun Xiaoyu), and participated in the Changzhou Professional Theater Troupe's creative performance, and won the second prize for creation. In 1985, he performed with Hong Kong's Tang Wanxia.
In 1986, Peng Zhen took a group photo with the actors of the Peking Opera Troupe in Changzhou
In 1988, young actress Wu Qiuping participated in the first national Youth Peking Opera Grand Prix and won the first prize of Jiangsu Division and the National Silver Screen Award. In 1990, Wu Yuanyuan won the second prize in the Jiangsu Division of the National Young Actors Grand Prix, and Zhu Ronglan won the third prize.
In 1986, Li Weikang led the three troupes of the China Peking Opera House to perform in Changzhou
The Changzhou Peking Opera Troupe was disbanded in the early 1990s for special reasons. Looking at the glorious course of Peking Opera in Changzhou's cultural circles and the disappearance of the Peking Opera Troupe, it has to be said that this is a great relic of Changzhou's literary and artistic undertakings.