Domestic variety shows, in recent years, killed a lot of dark horses.
From the original comedy competition "Annual Comedy Competition" to the Chinese dance program "Dance Millennium"...
The subject matter seems to be niche and unpopular, but it has conquered the public by quality.
Recently, there is another national comprehensive, which is also very bold in the selection of topics.
After three consecutive periods, Uncle Fish was really amazed.
Such a high-level national synthesis, it is really time to fire out of the circle -
"Philharmonic City"
Why is it bold?
Because it is the first program in China to focus on musical theater competition.
How to break this "high cold" art is the biggest difficulty of this show, and it is also its biggest attraction.
First of all, the guest lineup is not the usual way.
Unexpectedly invited zhang Yuqi such a musical outside the circle.
She continued her consistent straightness, asking if she didn't understand, and saying it if she didn't like it.
As a helper, her scoring criteria are one: can it resonate.
What can move her to tears is good drama, and what is indifferent is general.
And this is precisely the perspective that best represents the general audience.
As the mainstay of the industry, Ayunga is the head of the first state-owned musical theater troupe.
He has a rich resume in composing and singing.
Together with two other producers, he represents the professional perspective of the musical theatre industry.
Secondly, the program format breaks the threshold of appreciation of musicals.
Musicals, in fact, are not so far away.
It's like "a song and dance in a theater."
Tell a story by acting + singing + dancing.
The duration of the program is limited, and it is impossible to fully present a play lasting several hours.
Therefore, a few of the most representative clips have been excerpted, so that everyone can appreciate the greatest charm of the musical in just a few minutes.
And with a narration commentary before the opening, the audience who has not seen the original version can quickly enter the situation.
As a result, a large number of viewers were captured, and the ratings of the latest issue ranked first in the same period of provincial satellite TV in China's audiovisual big data.
What is even more surprising is that there are many original Chinese musicals in the program.
"Butterfly" was rated as an "epic original musical" by the People's Network.
It is born out of the classical folk tale "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai".
It not only focuses on presenting class differences, but also explores the differences in the emotional views of men and women in depth.
This time, Zhu Yingtai became the most beautiful girl in the butterfly people.
She wants to marry a human to break the curse that "butterfly people can't be real people".
However, on the night before the wedding, the uninvited guest Liang Shanbo suddenly broke in and threatened to take her away.
The confession puzzled her because the two had only met once.
In order to test the talent and sincerity of the other party, Zhu Yingtai kept asking questions.
The question-and-answer chant is like a poem that has been given a melody:
How do you write time
Invisible light hidden in the shadows
How do you write Eternity
Just disappeared too brief moment
How do you write hair
That talking planet on the prairie
Finally, Zhu Yingtai couldn't help but ask:
"How do you write about love?"
At this time, Liang Shanbo finally hesitated:
"I've never met her."
After saying that, he even wanted to run away.
But Zhu Yingtai stopped him and reached out to touch the flowers he handed over.
It represents her courage in love and a vision of the future.
"Butterfly" uses the form of a musical to interpret the "endless words and infinite meanings" of Chinese poetry.
The long-rhyming lyrics can be interpreted from two aspects.
One is dark.
Liang Shanbo's love is just a momentary brain fever, and he does not know what the responsibility is.
Zhu Yingtai was anxious to break free from the unfortunate marriage and plunged into the man's deception.
One is bright.
Both gained true freedom from this relationship.
As actor Yu Yueyue said, a woman's bravery in feelings is beyond men's imagination.
In 2007, "Butterfly" became a sensation around the world, becoming the first original Chinese musical to win an award abroad.
It also proves once again that art has no borders, and musical theater can also be a carrier of cultural output.
If "Butterfly" is the peak of romanticism in Chinese musical theater.
Then "In the Distance" is a representative of realism.
The story is completely based on reality and focuses on grassroots workers.
In 2000, the mainland's express delivery business began to grow wildly.
Yao Yuan and his brother Gao Chang decided to start their own courier company.
But they have to start with the early and greedy courier brother.
The entire selection, lines and performance climax overlap, allowing the audience to enter the play throughout the play.
Under the vivid interpretation of the actors, the personality differences between the two brothers are very obvious, which also highlights the coexistence of opportunities and cruelty of the times.
Gao Chang met a very unreasonable customer and ripped off his gloves to go to work in a big city.
"Don't I want to take the elevator?" People won't let you. People think I smell good. Do you know how many stairs I have to climb in a day?"
Yao Yuan endured humiliation and burden, optimistic and sober.
Firmly believe that hard work will be rewarded, they can rely on express delivery to buy a car and buy a house.
"The distance is not what you think it is, it is not where your feet can reach, but where your heart wants to transcend!" 」
Sets and props also add to the sense of reality.
Behind the roof of the restaurant are thousands of lights.
Tricycles, gloves, plastic capes, and a few props outline a cityscape and the daily routine of the takeaway brother.
Whether it is the theme or the performance, it is very close to the audience.
This also became the most enthusiastic work in the first round of competition.
Instantly, everyone understood the necessity of supporting local original musicals, and also had unlimited expectations for its future.
Musicals originated in the West, and of course, classic foreign plays are indispensable on the stage of "Philharmonic Capital".
Phantom of the Opera, one of the world's four largest musicals, was watched by more than 145 million people.
It has also been adapted into film and television works many times.
2004 film version of Phantom of the Opera
Because the interpretation is too difficult and afraid of smashing the field, no Chinese actor has ever performed on stage in the mainland.
However, in order to present the best stage effect, the program team made a bloody bet this time.
The male protagonist "Phantom" appeared in silhouette, full of suspenseful tension.
His heart tore apart in excitement and fear, like a scarlet mist, rising on the stage.
And the heroine Christine arrived as promised.
Standing on the dark bridge, he could only grope forward with his traction.
The costumes and styling of the two men are reproductions of 19th-century Paris.
The wall lamps when descending the stairs are all hand-held by real people, creating a demonic atmosphere.
As the "Phantom" punctures the boat to carry his lover across the river, the plot also reaches a climax.
Guided by the Phantom, Christine's high syllables climbed and continued to break through herself.
She unleashed her full potential and sang only for him.
At this moment, his mutilation was forgiven. Ugly, he created the perfect musical angel.
In a sigh of satisfaction, the performance came to an end.
As the opening show of the first period, this performance completely supported the ambition and pattern of the show.
Even the original author, Weber, couldn't help but like the show.
In the second issue, there was another top-notch musical, "Mamma Mia".
As one of the most successful musicals in broadway history, it has created a box office myth of 15 billion yuan.
The film version was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
At the same time, "Mamma Mia" also has a special significance for the Chinese musical theater industry.
It was the first Chinese musical to be produced in accordance with international musical theatre reproduction standards.
More than a decade ago, it toured more than 400 times in more than 20 cities across the country, with a box office of nearly 200 million, which was a box office miracle at that time.
It can be called a milestone in the industrialization of Chinese musical theater.
More remarkably, it is a work of women's themes.
The portrayal of women is different from tradition, abandoning the social identity of mothers and daughters, and only focusing on expressing their inner desires.
It still doesn't seem to be outdated today.
At the beginning of the performance, the three 40+ women talked about their dreams.
Donna's two girlfriends, one wanted to be a novelist and the other wanted to travel the world, both succeeded.
As a single mother, she could only divert the topic with an awkward laugh.
"It's time for me to make milk powder for my daughter."
She has been overwhelmed by chai rice oil and salt, and no longer clings to her dreams.
In order to regain the light in her eyes, the girlfriends sang the favorite songs of their youth.
The subsequent stage design is very clever.
The three of them disguised themselves on the spot, but in a few seconds, they changed from ordinary women to bright stage queens.
Every dance movement will show the beauty and strength of women to the fullest.
On the stage of love, Donna's eyes rekindled the confidence and enthusiasm of the past.
Women have unique beauty at any age.
This beauty comes from her independence, her ego, and not just devotion to her family.
This layer of expression also resonated with all the women present.
Zhang Yuqi even directly proposed to the producer Xiao Ke that he should write more about female themes, but don't limit your attention to marriage and children.
Another realistic musical, To Avon Hansen, focuses on the mental health of young people.
All four protagonists are "social terrorists".
Glasses, scarves, hats, and headphones are the protective colors they keep themselves out of the outside world.
The whole performance vividly reflects the stage design of the musical.
The sound of the hour hand turning, the hurried pedestrians, represent the world full of anxiety in the eyes of the community.
The visually stunning red background, combined with the close-up pictures constantly playing on the big screen, presents the inner monologues of the social terrorists.
No one is an island.
Perhaps, all social fear needs is to be understood and seen.
As well-meaning voices pour in, they also gradually dare to integrate into the world, leaving the "protective color" behind.
The four actors were fully engaged and remained in the play until the end of the show.
Teacher Ke, who had always been serious, looked at his wet eyes.
In addition, the show also appeared in the "Notre Dame de Paris", "Rock Mozart", "Magic Bad Witch" and other classic works.
And these wonderful performances are achieved by the musical theater people on and off the stage.
They are the leaders of the musical's breaking circle.
Among them, there are Zheng Qiyuan and Xia Zhenkai, who have been engaged in musical theater performances for a long time;
There are also Ding Zhenying, Guo Yaorong and other "backbone forces" that are currently fighting in the frontline;
There are also Zhang Weilun, Zhang Huifang and other new generations of "houlang".
They not only made us appreciate the high level of singing.
At the same time, it also allows us to understand the sentient beings of the domestic musical theater industry.
Fresh graduates of the class, fledgling debuted on the stage;
There are marginal supporting roles that have been played for more than ten years and are still unknown, eager for recognition;
There are also actors, idols, bold crossover...
Regardless of the size of the café, when they come to this stage, they are equal in front of the audience.
Offstage, however, the problems faced by musical theater people are more complex.
"Philharmonic City" does not shy away from expressing these practical dilemmas, and let us experience the difficulty of the development of musical theater.
For example, there are few opportunities to perform.
The domestic musical theater market is far from mature.
In addition to the head actor, many practitioners are facing the dilemma of not being able to make ends meet, especially women.
There are many people who work while supporting this dream.
For example, Jiang Qianru, a first-generation Chinese musical theater actor, jokingly called herself a "stepping stone" for Chinese musical theater on the show.
Even though she could surprise four seats with her voice, she didn't get enough room for display.
Due to the pressure of livelihood, she also changed careers to work as a micro-business for several years.
Even veteran actors face the problem of role stereotyping.
Yu Yueyue, who plays Zhu Yingtai, said that the type of role he received was very single.
She also hopes to have more opportunities to break through herself.
What follows is a serious brain drain.
Recent graduates of musical theatre are under a lot of pressure.
Precarious jobs and incomes have left many people frustrated.
There are more than 20 people in Fang Shujian's class, and now there are no more than 5 in the bank.
Jiang Qianru's classmates are now only 3 or 4 still active on the stage.
This also reflects the value of the musical actors' perseverance.
Also, regional development is uneven.
The musical theater industry in Beijing and Shanghai is relatively developed.
Famous actors have been able to have their own small theaters and studios.
It made Wang Zhe, who came to visit, envious.
In Shenzhen, where he is located, the musical theater market can be described as desolate.
It is ridiculed by the industry as "Guanghan Palace".
Those who are willing to stay there are pioneers with ideals like him.
Engaged in musical theater in China, the most difficult obstacle is that the public awareness is not high.
Many people mistakenly think that musical theater is a high-cold art of high and low.
Just seeing these three words makes me lose interest.
Without an audience, it is the most deadly thing for art.
But this show just shows that musicals are not inaccessible.
Like movies, it moves people's hearts with stories, emotions, and performances.
The hit worker in "In the Distance", the middle-aged woman in "Mamma Mia"...
All of them sing our hearts.
Not only that, but the program also uses professional commentary and the translation of lyrics.
Lower the threshold of understanding of foreign musical theater works.
Let us see that musicals can break down regional, cultural and linguistic barriers and fly into the homes of ordinary people.
As Ayunga says, Chinese musicals have a long way to go, and it's not "weaning time" yet.
Breaking the circle is the common mission of the musical theater industry.
With the perseverance of the musical theater people, with the conscience of the musical theater popularization program.
This art will surely be able to fly into the homes of ordinary people.