Lilian Lee
When combing through the historical materials of the Fudan Drama Society in the 1930s, a character's name jumped into view: Li Lilian.
In January 1936, Fudan Opera Company performed Cao Yu's famous work "Thunderstorm" at the Carlton Grand Theatre in Shanghai and the Sunbeam Theatre respectively, which was the premiere of "Thunderstorm" in Shanghai. The famous drama master Ouyang Yuqian served as the director, and the members of the Fudan Drama Society participated in most of the roles. The January 10 "Declaration" introduced the performance lineup of "Thunderstorm" as follows: "The script was a highly acclaimed from 1935 to the highest, the director is the most refined expert in Chinese stage skills, and the actors are well-trained school dramatists. ”
However, the protagonist of "Thunderstorm" is prosperous, but by "Ms. Li Lilian cameo" - who is Li Lilian? She is neither a Fudan student, nor a "school drama person", how can she play a leading role in "Thunderstorm"?
Fudan Opera Company performed the "Thunderstorm" advertisement, published in the "Declaration" on January 10, 1936
According to the newspapers and periodicals of that year, in the early 1930s, Li Lilian had become popular and emerged in song, dance, drama and film. Her acting talent is deeply appreciated by Ouyang Yuqian. According to the tradition of Fudan Opera Society, some important roles of famous dramas will invite famous film and drama stars to play, and Yuan Muzhi and Wang Ying have all guest starred in the performances of Fudan Drama Club. Under the recommendation of Ouyang Yuqian, Li Lilian became the pillar of "Thunderstorm", which is also logical.
Don't let go of her tears on stage!
Li Lilian, whose ancestral home is Guangdong, was born in Shanghai in 1914. She was originally a Cantonese opera actress, and she liked to sing, and was known as "Lingnan Singer".
In September 1930, at the New Oriental Theater in Hengbangqiao, North Sichuan Road, Shanghai, the Shanghai Xishe Opera Department solemnly launched the five-act opera "Wang Zhaojun", which was the pioneering work of Chinese serious opera. The play was written by Xiao Mei and composed by Zhang Shu, and the musical material of the whole play was taken from Cantonese opera in Guangdong. Li Lilian, who is only 16 years old, successfully played the protagonist Wang Zhaojun with her skills as a Cantonese opera actress.
Screenwriter and director Xiao Mei praised Li Lilian's performance, and he especially reminded the audience: "Please don't let go of her tears on the stage!" For the pure tears can also give us the joy of the soul. ”
The score of "Wang Zhaojun" has been scattered, and no audio and video materials have been left, but from the newspaper reviews of that year, Li Lilian's performance skills can still be glimpsed. On September 10, 1930, the "Republic of China Daily" published an article that said: "The protagonist Ms. Li Lilian, born in Lingnan, is proficient in Cantonese music, her singing voice is loud and beautiful, it goes without saying, except for one or two places that are slightly dull, Yu Jun is naturally reasonable, so I confirm that Ms. Li is a talent rich in artistic genius." ”
Formal "electrocution", such as fish in the water
In 1931, Li Lilian entered the Tianyi Film Company, officially "electrocuted", and played a role in the film "Miss Shanghai Han Xiuwen". Later, on the recommendation of Ouyang Yuqian, she entered the Star Film Company.
From a singer to a movie star, Li Lilian seems to be effortless. In addition to the film "Miss Shanghai Han Xiuwen", she also played Miss Lin Si in "The Wife with a Husband", Zhang Man in "The Flower of Society", and Ms. Zhao in "Qiankun in dreams"... These roles, Li Lilian played with ease.
Stills from the movie "The Flower of Society", Li Lilian as Zhang Man
In 1936, Li Lilian starred in the film "Qingming Season" directed by Ouyang Yuqian, she played the maid Wang Ma, who loved to manipulate right and wrong, and was a clown in the film, but she played a pure fire. The industry commented that Wang Mama "made people look at the hate, feel that this type of person can be the most bad, her (referring to Li Lilian) acting skills set off the active plot, her skin crying and smiling face, but also left a deep impression on people." ”
Ouyang Yuqian still did not hesitate to praise her: "Ms. Li has played many roles in the drama, she never chooses roles, people say that she is best to play a special personality, such as crazy horror and extremely tragic roles and she is the most suitable, but she is also quite competent in playing roles of ordinary personality." ”
Stills of "Qingming Season", the second from the right is Wang Ma, played by Li Lilian
However, because most of the roles played in the movie are supporting roles, compared with other movie stars, Li Lilian does not seem to be as popular as her contemporaries Wang Renmei, Li Lili, Ruan Lingyu and Hu Die. Her strength lies in her singing voice, and she has served as a backing singer in many film interludes, such as "The Queen's New Marriage" starring Hu Die. In the film "Miss Shanghai Han Xiuwen", Li Lilian sang "Love Fangchun", and "Declaration" commented: "Li Lilian is a song and dance star, and the song in the film is a song, and the warbler is whining, and the name is worthy of the name." ”
The different characteristics of Li Lilian and other movie stars were compared by someone at that time: "Her voice is better than Wang Renmei, Li Lili, etc., and the point that protrudes is the intensity of emotion." "The songs she sings are all very fast and difficult songs, and the music is particularly complicated, and only she can do it."
Li Lilian in the old newspaper of the Republic of China
In Yan'an, her name is a household name
After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, Li Lilian joined the Shanghai Rescue Drama Team. At the end of 1937, she arrived in Yan'an and began an important turning point in her life.
Panorama of Lu Xun Art Institute in Yan'an
As the first batch of students of Yan'an Lu Xun Art Academy, Li Lilian became a teacher of Lu Yi Music Department as soon as she graduated. She also served as an officer of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region People's Entertainment Improvement Association, a cultural instructor of the People's Theater Troupe, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Border Region Cultural Association. For Yan'an literary and artistic activities, Li Lilian poured great enthusiasm into it, participated in various performances, and sang "Yellow River Song" and "Phoenix Nirvana".
Li Lilian's new operas "Rural Song" and "Military and Civilian March" were warmly welcomed by the military and people of Yan'an. "Military and Civilian March" is the only opera created by Xian Xinghai, who himself cherishes it so much that he once asked by name to "Comrade Li Lilian to play his sister-in-law..."
In 1940, teachers and students of the Luyi Music Department in Yan'an took a group photo in front of the Dongshan Cave
Li Lilian is one of the most active literary and art activists in Yan'an. In Yan'an, her name is a household name.
At that time, the American doctor Ma Haide proposed to Sophie, a female student of Lu Yi, and after getting his consent, he happily rushed to Wang Jiaping, rushed into the residence of Wang Jiaxiang, director of the Political Department, and shouted: "I am getting married!" According to Sophie's recollection: "Comrade Wang Jiaxiang was stunned and asked: 'Who are you going to marry?' The horse pretended to be mysterious and said, 'You guessed it. Comrade Wang Jiaxiang tentatively asked: 'Li Lilian?' The horse hurriedly and proudly said, 'No, it's Sophie!' It can be seen that in the eyes of the central leaders, Li Lilian is also a Yan'an celebrity.
Ma Haide and Sophie's marriage certificate, Li Lilian as the marriage introducer
Dramatic transnational marriages
At a dance party in Yan'an, Li Lilian met Li De, a tall Austrian who was teaching at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University. Li Lilian greeted Li De in English, and Li De was deeply surprised that she could speak English.
After that, Li Lilian invited Li De to watch a song and dance party, and her singing of the northern Shaanxi folk song "Driving Out the Animal Spirit" made Li De listen to it like crazy, and the two soon fell in love.
Li De later recalled: "After Li Lilian and I became close friends, artists from all walks of life often came to my house for weekends, and Ma Haide, who loved to socialize, often pulled some young people to our courtyard. We talk about everything, mainly art and politics, but also play table tennis, and sometimes even dance..."
One day in 1938, Li De approached Chen Yun, who was in charge of the Central Organization Department, and asked to marry Li Lilian, which was approved. Since then, Li Lilian has become Li De's second Chinese wife.
Reed
However, the good times did not last long. In the early morning of August 28, 1939, Li De received a note from a correspondent, which was Zhang Wentian's handwriting: "Come to the airport quickly, you fly to Moscow." Li De hurriedly put on his clothes, mounted his Chahar pony, and sped toward the airport.
It turned out that the Comintern sent a telegram asking Li De to return to the Soviet Union to report for duty. There happened to be a plane that sent Zhou Enlai, who accidentally fell off his horse and broke his arm, to the Soviet Union for treatment, and let Li De take a plane to go.
At the airport, Mao Zedong, Zhang Wentian and other central leaders came to see them off, and Li De asked to go with Li Lilian, but because he did not have a passport and visa, he had to kiss his wife with tears.
Since then, they have been separated and have never seen each other again.
I always feel that Yan'an is the best
After her husband left, Li Lilian did not interrupt her artistic practice. While acting and teaching, she collected styles and collected folk songs from northern Shaanxi.
In the winter of 1939, Mao Zedong told Lu Yi leader Zhang Geng and others that some works by playwrights in the kuomintang could be staged in Yan'an, and Cao Yu's drama "Sunrise" could be performed. Soon, Lu Yi set up a "Sunrise" performance preparation team, and director Wang Bin decided that the protagonist Chen Bailu would be played by Li Lilian. This is Li Lilian's second starring role in Cao Yu's famous drama after playing The Prosperity in the Fudan Drama Company version of "Thunderstorm".
On December 28, 1939, "Sunrise" was rehearsed for pre-trial in the auditorium of the Central Organization Department of the North Gate of Yan'an. It was snowy and windy that day, and the windows of the auditorium had no glass or pasted window paper, just frames made of wooden strips, and the cold wind blew in through the gaps, making the actors and audience shiver.
Not long after the opening of the second act, Grandma Gu Ba was telling Chen Bailu about her "love philosophy": "Love is that you willingly take out money to ask him to spend, and it doesn't hurt you how he spends nonsense - that is love, love..."
Yan'an Luyi's drama performance
Suddenly, the curtain fell, and Li Lilian and Yan Yiyan, who played Gu Ba's grandmother, were stunned! It turned out that that day's performance, Li Lilian and Yan Yiyan were wearing silk cheongsam and high heels, just when Zhou Enlai came to the snow, he saw Li Lilian and Yan Yiyan shivering on the stage, their teeth cackling, and the lines were not accurate, so they lost their temper with the director: "You don't love the actors too much!" How did you freeze them like this? Then he sent someone to find sweater sweaters and charcoal braziers for the actors to "rest well and be warm and warm."
Yan Yiyan later recalled, "After hearing these words, Lilian and I were moved to tears, and we couldn't bear not to let it roll down, because I was afraid of ruining the makeup." Later, the stage staff brought sweaters and sweaters, let the actors wear them in the cheongsam, and raised a charcoal fire in an invisible place around the stage, which sounded the bell to reopen.
On New Year's Day 1940, "Sunrise" was officially performed in Yan'an, causing a sensation. Yan'an's "New China News" once reported on the grand performance with the title of "'Sunrise' performed for eight days, with an audience of nearly 80,000". The success of Yan'an Luyi's version of "Sunrise" is indispensable to the starring Li Lilian. Years later, many old artists got together and talked about "Sunrise", "I always feel that Yan'an is the best." ”
"She's no longer the singer and movie star of the past"
In early 1946, Li Lilian, Ouyang Shanzun and Chen Bo'er returned to Shanghai from Yan'an. At that time, Li Lilian was already married to Ouyang Yuqian's son and playwright Ouyang Shanzun.
Ouyang Shanzun
Li Lilian's legendary experience in Yan'an has made her fans feel quite mysterious. Nine years apart, what has changed in this former singer and movie star? People followed her, observed her, hoping to find answers from her.
An author signed "Wen Jian" wrote happily: "The day before yesterday on the road, we saw a very good-looking young lady, thin body and thin face, and then I thought about it carefully and remembered that it was her. Some people also described that when they met Li Lilian at the meeting one day, "People are much older than before, but their spirits are exceptionally good." ”
Soon, people found the answer in a small matter - the Great China Records Company learned that Li Lilian returned to Shanghai, and came to ask her to produce a new record, and Li Lilian proposed the signing conditions: first, "the lyrics must be absolutely progressive"; second, "the song and lyrics must first be agreed by the singer", otherwise the bid is high, and it is disdainful. The Greater China Company listened and could only retreat from the difficulties.
Someone commented, "The average female star female singer often only recognizes the banknote for the broadcast of songs, and does not care about the content of the song... And Li Lilian is actually a female singer who thinks forward... She didn't even ask how much money she had to say about the lyrics! "A fully typical 'urban woman', completely changed her style and was infected with 'Yan'an style'..." This is Li Lilian who returned from Yan'an! She is no longer the singer and movie star of the past, but a people's singer and revolutionary literary and art worker.
After Li Lilian returned to Shanghai, she enthusiastically introduced Yan'an in the newspapers and in public, the new atmosphere and new literature and art of Yan'an, the military and the people of Yan'an, and the leaders of the CPC, which made the people in the Kuomintang area full of curiosity.
In Shanghai, Li Lilian was entrusted by Xia Yan to participate in the work of winning against the Kuomintang dictatorship of literary and art circles in the Kuomintang area. One day in 1946, she visited the famous composer Chen Gexin.
Chen Gexin's son, the composer Chen Gang, recalled: "I remember her two fine braids and a pair of large, translucent eyes that were trapped in the dark and thin face socket. She brought the warmth of the party, brought the news of spring, and encouraged her father to go to Hong Kong, where progressive literati gathered, to find Xia Yan and find the party. Soon, Chen Gexin flew to Hong Kong alone, "In Hong Kong, he found spring..."
Chen Gexin
Li Lilian appeared as a dazzling protagonist on May 4, 1946. On that day, in order to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement, the Shanghai Branch of the Cultural Association held a literary and art reception at the Spicy Fei Grand Theater, attended by famous people such as Song Qingling, Ye Shengtao, Zhou Yutong, Xu Guangping, Li Jianwu and Zhao Jingshen.
Li Lilian and Ouyang Shanzun performed the opera "Brothers and Sisters Open up the Wilderness" at the meeting. The performance of "Brothers and Sisters Opening up the Wasteland" made the Shanghai audience refreshed. After the show, the audience rushed backstage to ask for autographs.
Writer Li Rui was a reporter for Nanyang's "Forward Newspaper" and was on a business trip to Shanghai, and "Brothers and Sisters Opened the Wilderness" strongly shocked him: "For me, this is indeed the first time in my life that I am most excited about literature and art... I've never seen them in my life. Their waists stood so straight, their chests seemed so wide, their eyes so bright, and their singing voices so loud and cheerful. They are really their own people, Chinese peasants, Chinese peasants who are really standing up! ”
The opera "Brothers and Sisters Opening up the Wilderness" is a classic play of Yan'an Luyi
After the founding of New China, Li Lilian served as deputy director of the International Liaison Department of the All-China Women's Federation, mainly engaged in people-to-people diplomacy and women's and children's undertakings. At the same time, she also contributed to the preparation of the Beijing People's Art Theater and the Central Opera and Dance Theater.
In April 1965, Li Lilian died of illness in Beijing.
Excerpt from "Archives of Spring and Autumn" (dacqbjb)
Author: Reading Shi Lao Zhang
EDIT: Wei Zhong