As we all know, Wang Wenjuan and Xu Yulan are the longest-standing "golden companions" on the Yue Opera stage. But what many people don't know is that Wang Wenjuan had partnered with Yin Guifang for a period of time before partnering Xu Yulan, but due to external factors, the two had just performed two big plays, and then suddenly suspended their cooperation, and then Lao Yan flew separately, went their separate ways, and there was no opportunity for cooperation, which is really regrettable, otherwise another golden pair of golden partners is likely to appear on the Yue Opera stage.
Yin Guifang stills
In the autumn of 1948, Yin Guifang cherished the sentiment of losing the "stage couple" Zhu Shuizhao and the dismemberment of the "Fanghua Theater Troupe", and after adjustment, she revived and resumed the Fanghua Theater Troupe. She listened to the opinions of many people and chose her "stage partner" from several Yue Opera Hua Dan from that time onwards, and finally chose Wang Wenjuan.
At that time, Wang Wenjuan had previously partnered with Lu Jinhua for two years, performed several fashion Yue operas that were popular on the beach, and began to become popular on the Shanghai Yue Opera stage.
But during the summer break of 1948, Lu Jinhua suddenly fell ill, and Wang Wenjuan had to break up with him. So when Yin Guifang, the "Emperor of Yue Opera", threw an olive branch to Wang Wenjuan, Wang Wenjuan was of course overjoyed and gladly agreed.
In fact, as early as when Wang Wenjuan was studying art with her teacher, she often went to see the performances of Yin Guifang and Zhu Shuizhao, the two eldest sisters. Yin Guifang's singing voice and performance absorb many characteristics of Wang Wenjuan's teacher Zhu Su'e, so Wang Wenjuan is no stranger to Yin Guifang's singing voice and performance style.
Zhu Su'e stills
Different from Zhu Su'e's rigorous and simple "cold noodle" style, Yin Guifang is dashing and graceful on stage, known as the "Emperor of Yue Opera", especially her eyes are agile, especially "discharge", which has captivated countless audiences, and also made Wang Wenjuan and other "rising stars" very admired, and of course eager to cooperate with it.
But when the opportunity for cooperation really came to her, Wang Wenjuan couldn't help but feel a little uneasy in her heart. After all, Yin Guifang is 7 years older than her, and she is a famous student who is famous in the Yue Arena, and Wang Wenjuan feels that her acting qualifications are not enough to match Yin Guifang.
Now the Lanxin Grand Theatre
Lyceum Theatre was built in 1930, located at the intersection of Changle Road and Maoming South Road, with a very high-end and superior location. The theater is foreign-owned, with advanced and luxurious facilities and air-conditioning devices. No matter how hot it is outside, the show can continue as usual.
Today's Lyceum Theatre auditorium
On July 20, 1948, the general Yue Opera Troupe was still "resting in summer" due to the scorching heat of three volts, and Yin Guifang and Wang Wenjuan's first drama "Lu Wenlong with Two Guns" opened at the Lyceum Grand Theater. Yin Guifang plays Lu Wenlong, and Wang Wenjuan plays Princess Qunfeng.
Lu Wenlong newspaper advertisement
Before the opening, Wang Wenjuan couldn't help but look a little nervous, Yin Guifang saw Wang Wenjuan's thoughts at a glance, and quickly comforted: Little sister, don't be nervous, just relax and act... If there is any situation, I will bear!
Sure enough, the double-gun Lu Wenlong played by Yin Guifang is handsome and mighty, full of the youthful atmosphere unique to the young hero, coupled with her standardized physical movements and good skills, she is radiant and full of glory as soon as she appears.
Yin Guifang's eldest sister-like and pleasant words Wang Wenjuan reduced her nervousness a little, and after taking the stage, she saw Yin Guifang's eyes and amazing physical movements, and quickly forgot herself and entered the role.
In particular, Yin Guifang's familiar and intimate singing and playing reminded Wang Wenjuan of her teacher Zhu Su'e, so the performance was very smooth.
"Lu Wenlong" stills
Needless to say, Yin Guifang and Wang Wenjuan were successful in their first collaboration, and their singing could be heard by all Shanghai citizens through radio broadcast.
Immediately afterwards, the second big drama "Lang Tao Sha" was staged in mid-August. This play is written about the love story of Empress Li and Xiao Zhouhou.
"Lang Tao Sha" newspaper advertisement
Yin Guifang plays Empress Li, and Wang Wenjuan plays Empress Xiao Zhou. Yin Guifang performed Li Houju's warm lingering compassion for Xiao Zhouhou, as well as the sadness and sadness after Jiangshan Yi was reformed, delicately and vividly, making people particularly sympathetic and pitying.
Stills from "Surfing the Sand"
Xiao Zhouhou played by Wang Wenjuan is beautiful and melancholy, tactful and moving, and her cooperation with Yin Guifang is more skillful. The play naturally got better and better, and the audience was full.
However, due to the "loopholes" in the contract between the troupe and the theater, the theater saw that the troupe was selling better and better, and suddenly proposed to increase the "venue rental fee". And the troupe, even if the venue is full, deducting the rental fee, it is not enough to meet the remaining expenses, and there is no room for profit. After negotiating again, both sides refused to budge, and finally had to terminate the contract.
Wang Wenjuan stills
Contract termination may be the norm for theaters and troupes, but it is no small matter for actors. Because most of the Yue opera actors at that time signed contracts every six months. The signing after the annual "summer break" is particularly important and critical, which means how the main actors of each troupe partner and arrange, and also means the landing of the livelihood "rice bowl" in the second half of the year.
At that time, there were only a few famous headliners Hua Dan and Xiaosheng in the Yue Opera industry. The audience always likes to watch "fresh" combinations, so before the start of the half-year performance season, the front and backstage bosses always have to rack their brains and arrange the partner actors, which is related to the big question of whether the theater and the troupe are selling out.
Now that the performance season has just begun in the second half of the year, the fresh combination of Yin Guifang and Wang Wenjuan has also produced an audience effect, and was suddenly "terminated", which suddenly caught Yin Guifang and Wang Wenjuan by surprise. Because other theaters and troupes have already hired performance lineups at this time, the main partners have begun to become familiar with the audience. This means that Yin Guifang and Wang Wenjuan have neither partners, nor theaters, nor "plays" to sing.
Yin Guifang is the leader of the troupe and a young student, if she does not sing elsewhere here, she could have brought Wang Wenjuan, but the world is complicated, and many things are not Yin Guifang alone.
In the end, Wang Wenjuan was alone, and Yin Guifang had no better way to "stop Wenjuan's little sister".
Yin Guifang at a TV concert
On August 31, 1948, after performing the last performance of "Lang Tao Sha", Yin Guifang said goodbye to Wang Wenjuan and sent a still as a souvenir.
Now in front of the Lanxin Grand Theater
But there is nothing wrong with the sky, just after Wang Wenjuan was "terminated", Xu Yulan, the "head" of the Yulan Theater Troupe, "hit" Wang Wenjuan again. Soon she joined the Magnolia Theatre Company. On September 22, the first big drama "Feng Xiaoxiao" opened in the Star Theater, and Xu Yulan and Wang Wenjuan began a half-century of cooperation.
"Wind Xiaoxiao" newspaper advertisement
Xu Yulan, Wang Wenjuan stills
The termination of the contract did not have a substantial impact on Wang Wenjuan, so Wang Wenjuan never paid attention to it.
But Yin Guifang is a person who is tolerant of others, but strict and even demanding of herself. She always feels that Wang Wenjuan's "termination" is related to herself, after all, she took the initiative to find Wang Wenjuan, but now she is unable to help Wang Wenjuan, for which Yin Guifang feels guilty and becomes a "heart knot".
The foyer of the present-day Lanxin Theatre
One day at the end of 1979, at the conference held in the auditorium of the Shanghai Writers Association, Yin Guifang and Wang Wenjuan met each other. At this time, Yin Guifang, who had experienced a "special decade", was unfortunately paralyzed due to illness and came to the meeting in a wheelchair. As soon as she saw Wang Wenjuan, she took her hand and said: Sister Wenjuan, I can't stop you in the original matter...
Wang Wenjuan was stunned when she listened, after thirty years, she did not expect that she would still treat people sincerely after the wind and frost, and the eldest sister who strictly disciplined herself was still entangled in the matter of "Lan Xin", which shows that the eldest sister is really a kind person.
Yin Guifang, Wang Wenjuan
This made Wang Wenjuan feel a little overwhelmed. So Wang Wenjuan took Yin Guifang's hand and said emotionally: Big sister, don't think like that. I know that you were also deceived at the beginning, and in fact, the "Lanxin" thing had no effect on me, and I really never blamed you. In my mind, you will always be the big sister who is willing to promote newcomers and treat people with generosity and friendliness!
Yin Guifang finally said the words that had been accumulated in her heart for a long time, and when she heard Wang Wenjuan say this, her heart seemed to be much relieved.
In 1981, Wang Wenjuan and Yin Guifang co-performed "Panfu Suo Wife • Cave Room" at the "Beijing Changyou Drama" TV concert.
Yin Guifang and Wang Wenjuan sing excerpts from "Panfu and Suo Wife"
Although Yin Guifang's right body cannot move, through her smart eyes and left hand movements, she allows the audience to imagine the vigorous stage style when the two were partners, which seems to make up for the regret of the two artists "dismantling" for more than 30 years. Many viewers were moved by the strict self-discipline of the two artists, mutual understanding, and tolerance of others with heart and spirit.