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From the taciturn Zeng Wenqing in "Beijingers" to the spirited Second Master Qin in "The Tea House"; from the mercurial Dong Qi in "Cai Wenji" to the calm Feng Leshan in "Home"... Since his first appearance in the drama "Thunderstorm" in 1945, he has dedicated his life to the people's literary and artistic cause.
He is the former actor and director of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, Lan Tianye. On June 29, at the age of 94 and with silver hair, he was awarded the party's highest honor, the "July 1st Medal", as the only representative of the theater industry.
"I will do whatever the party tells me to do." To this day, Blue Sky Wild still uses practical actions to fulfill his solemn promise when he joined the party at the age of 18.
Hearts to the party
"I will do whatever the party tells me to do"]
Drama is a lifelong passion of Blue Sky Wild. But few people know that he was first interested in painting, and that he first embarked on a career in theater to do a good job of party work.
In 1945, at the age of 18, Lan Tianye was studying painting at the National Peking Art College. Shi Mei, the third sister who has been away from home for several years, returned from the Liberated Areas, and as an underground party member, one of her tasks when she returned home this time was to carry out underground work in Beiping. "Our family naturally became a secret contact point for the beiping underground party."
Blue Sky Wild is interviewed (photo taken on June 16, 2021). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Zhonghao
The pamphlets on the cover of white paper, such as "On Coalition Government" and "On New Democracy" brought by the third sister, were the first revolutionary ideas I came into contact with. What particularly impressed me was the article "The Destiny of Two Chinas": in front of the Chinese people, there are two roads, the road of light and the road of darkness... We should fight with all our might for a bright future and a bright destiny, against another dark future and a dark destiny..."
These progressive ideas ignited the enthusiasm of the 18-year-old Blue Sky Wild. He began to take the initiative to share some revolutionary work for his sister. When my sister listened to the information of the radio station in the Liberated Areas with a shortwave radio, Lan Tianye was responsible for recording, and he also became a traffic officer of the Beiping underground party, often riding a bicycle from Xizhimen to Xishan, specifically responsible for transporting intelligence documents and materials.
"The day I joined the party is like a birthday and will never be forgotten"]
Talking about why he wanted to join the party, Lan Tianye said: "Since I grew up living in the occupied areas, I have personally experienced the miserable life of ordinary people under the rule of Japanese imperialism. When I wake up in the morning for three or nine days, I can often see people freezing to death and starving to death on the side of the road. Growing up a little longer, I saw the difference between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, so I joined the party with a very simple idea. Not only do I feel that I can no longer be a slave to the country; I also feel that only under the leadership of the Communist Party can China have hope. ”
In the eyes of others, it was a high-risk job, but in the eyes of Lan Tianye, there was nothing, but he regretted that "at that time, he was still young and could not do more work for the party."
Blue Sky Ye pointed out to reporters the repertoire he had starred in at the Drama Museum of the People's Art Theater in Beijing (taken on June 16, 2021). Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Yu Yu)
Because of the danger of being in the enemy-occupied area, Lan Tianye joined the party without ceremony or oath, but he still clearly remembers that day - September 23, 1945, with the approval of the higher party organization, Lan Tianye joined the Communist Party of China.
"Just like people remember their birthdays, I'll never forget them." Blue Sky Ye said, from that day on, he said to himself, "You are a party member, and you give all of yourself to the party." Listen to the party all your life. ”
Dedication to drama
【Rooted in the people, experience life】
Soon after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the first art academy in China, the Beijing People's Art Theater, was established. The 25-year-old Lan Tianye became one of the first actors in Beijing Renyi.
Blue Sky Wild did not rehearse the play immediately, but spent a long time to experience life. He worked at the Liulihe Cement Factory in Beijing. When the converter for firing cement failed, he and the master worker wore asbestos suits, wrapped in a soaking quilt, braved the high temperature to enter the furnace, and hit the cement "circle" with a steel braze. When the theater performances were not busy, he took the initiative to apply to do farm work and feed livestock in the remote suburban counties, and spent more than half a year with the villagers.
The picture shows the older generation of artists Such as Hezhi, Zheng Rong, Lan Tianye and others starring in the famous stage drama "Tea House". Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Xu
In order to perform Mr. Lao She's masterpiece "The Tea House", Lan Tianye not only traveled to the large and small tea houses in Beijing, but also deeply observed the every move of the "old Beijing" in the tea house, the storytellers, and the shop guys, and even the last "old eunuch" in Beijing became his interview and observation object. In order to make the role of "Second Master Qin" stand, Lan Tianye contacted the entrepreneurs in the capital, and gradually "touched" this role through continuous observation, understanding, repeated brewing and rehearsal.
In March 1958, "Tea House" premiered, and "Second Master Qin" shocked the audience as soon as he appeared.
"As long as the party needs me and the audience needs me, I will shine well and heat up." ”】
From "The Tea House" to "Beijinger", "Cai Wenji", "Wang Zhaojun", to "Chincha Minister", "Romeo and Juliet", "Little Citizen"... Blue Sky Wild has adhered to the stage for decades and shines for the people's literary and artistic undertakings.
In 2011, Beijing Renyi rehearsed the key play "Home" to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and the 84-year-old Lan Tianye returned to the stage. He still maintains the habit he has developed over the years: whenever there is a performance, he will be backstage at four o'clock in the afternoon; after the performance, he will slowly remove his makeup, so he always comes first and leaves the latest.
Blue Sky Wild (left) at the show on June 23, 2011. In the evening, Beijing Renyi's big drama for the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the new version of "Home", premiered in Beijing. Xinhua News Agency reporter Tang Shizeng photographed
During a rehearsal, he accidentally fell, fractured his fingers, and the first thing he said when he got up was, "I'm sorry everyone, I'm frightened." The next day, he came to the rehearsal hall early with an injury and refused to delay for a moment.
In line with the original intention of art for the party and the people, Blue Sky Wild has always set strict demands on itself with high standards. Some people were worried about Blue Sky Wild's body, but he said, "This is my duty, what is there that can't go out?" As long as the party needs me and the audience needs me, I will shine well and heat up. ”
Virtue and art
"Don't be complacent about art, be exquisite." ”】
Blue Sky Wild's favorite place is the Beijing Renyi Theater Museum. "Here is Mr. Jiao Juyin, the soul of human art." Lan Tianye recalled, "In 1963, Mr. Jiao Juyin wanted to rearrange "Guan Hanqing" and wanted to find an assistant director to help him, and the theater provided several lists, and it was at that time that I became a full-time director. ”
After retiring, Lan Tianye is still concerned about the drama career and cares about the cultivation of the next generation of talents all the time.
In 2012, in order to welcome the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Beijing Renyi Academy, the theater created a realistic theme drama "Koshien", and Lan Tianye was invited to serve as the artistic director of the play. During the interval between intense rehearsals and performances, he always did not forget to tell young actors about the artistic virtues and characters that "human artists" should have, and teach them how to feel and experience the role.
Veteran artists Lan Tianye (left) and Lü Zhong (right) perform in Koshien on September 14, 2012. On the same day, Beijing Renyi's annual original drama "Jiaziyuan" premiered at the Beijing Capital Theatre. Xinhua News Agency reporter Tang Shizeng photographed
In the eyes of young actors, Blue Sky Wild is not only a highly respected predecessor, but also a meticulous strict teacher. For many years, he has continued to teach the theory and techniques of theatrical performance to successive groups of young actors. Blue Sky Wild often confides in young actors: don't be complacent about art, you must pay attention.
"You perform, don't float there, perform the most taboo false pretense." Your play will fall to the ground. Blue Sky Wild also often suggests that actors experience life in reality, "artistic creation is rooted in the people, and it is necessary to serve the people." Young people should adhere to the creative tradition of experiencing life. Under his influence, many artists such as Pu Cunxin, Yang Lixin, Feng Yuanzheng and so on have inherited and carried forward the precious tradition of experiencing life and taking root in the people, and have grown into the backbone of the theater industry in continuous tempering.
[His professionalism constantly knocks on the hearts of young actors]
Teaching by example is more important than words. In 2015, at the age of 88, Blue Sky Wild directed the Swiss playwright Dürrenmatt's masterpiece "The Return of the Noble Lady", and he carefully considered and carefully explained every line and every action of each actor. Once, because the young actor's body movements were still not in place, he stood aside and suddenly threw off the crutch in his hand and fell to the ground to demonstrate.
On April 27, 2015, director Lan Tianye explained "Lady Returns Homecoming" to the audience at a audition held at the Capital Theatre. Xinhua News Agency
On April 27, 2015, actors Pu Cunxin (left) and Chen Xiaoyi performed a wonderful clip in the drama "The Noble Lady Returns Home". Xinhua News Agency
As long as he is in the rehearsal hall, his tenacious spiritual quality and serious professionalism continue to strike at the hearts of young actors. When rehearsing the play, the spirit of the old man is better than all of us. "When it comes to blue sky, the young people around me are always full of admiration.
His close friend, Su Min, the director of Beijing Renyiyuan, once lamented that Lan Tianye has a rare noble temperament. If you do not understand what is called dedication, what is loyalty to your own faith, you do not understand what is noble, you will not have the passion and creativity of life, and you will not achieve noble character.
"Listening to the party's words all your life" is not an empty phrase, but a promise that Blue Sky Wild has practiced with his whole life. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, and his greatest wish is to direct a play at the new theater of Beijing Renyi as a gift to the Party and the new era.
Text reporters: Wu Mengda, Zhang Manzi, Sun Lei, Chen Zhonghao
Video production: Sun Lei, Zhang Manzi, Jiao Yu
Editors: Jia Zhen, Leng Yanyan