There has always been a saying of "endless Cao Yu, inexhaustible "Thunderstorm"" but for Beijing Renyi, this protracted classic of the old dean Cao Yu has not yet had a second version.
On September 8, the second new drama "Thunderstorm" directed by Pu Cunxin at the Beijing International Theater Center opened, meeting the media for the first time. As the former young master Zhou Ping on the stage of human art, looking for Mr. Cao Yu's unsolved code and reinterpreting this classic has become his long-cherished wish. Today, Pu Cunxin not only plays the director as desired, but also plays Zhou Puyuan.
Pu Cunxin, who is rarely clumsy in expression, was particularly excited that day, but he also said that his most exciting moment should actually be the premiere. "A lot of people will say how this guy got the director! However, the theater is the place where miracles are produced, and the works written by the old dean with a pen when he was young were renovated for the first time, which is also my point of interest. I thought that I had not acted well before, and I had many thoughts and questions, and I was satisfied with the two-month rehearsal, which was beyond my imagination, and I hoped that Mr. Cao Yu's spirit in heaven could see the descendants show his most compassionate and sympathetic roles in this way. ”
Source: Mr. Cao Yu
It is reported that this time Pu Cunxin traced back from the text to the original uncut script in 1934, and found the freshest and most original expression of Mr. Cao Yu that year. "Finding action in literature, finding stories, and letting the audience see familiar stories, there are many very interesting and potentially different places from previous cognitions." As a director and star, Pu Cunxin said that he wanted to abandon the psychology of incest and voyeurism in the past, not only to tell a good story, but also to reflect the author's humanistic care and human exploration, and make "Les Misérables"-like compassion.
Infographic: In July 1934, "Thunderstorm" was published in the third issue of the first volume of the Literary Quarterly
"'I'm writing a poem, not a social drama,'" Mr. Cao Yu once said." Director Tang Ye believes that the poetic expression on the stage is the core of this reinterpretation of the classic. "After literature became drama, Mr. Cao Yu's poetry runs through it."
The new row of "Thunderstorm" will also emphasize the poetic expression on the stage. The play will not only present the family scene of the Zhou Mansion through the romantic and freehand stage design, but also use the combination of virtual and real to make the real characters and the characters in the memories appear interspersed, and complete the unique narrative of the drama stage between time and space. "The flashes of Shi Ping and Zhou Puyuan on the stage thirty years ago take the audience to find fragments of memory."
Infographic: Renyi "Thunderstorm" premiere instruction manual
September 24 is the birthday of Mr. Cao Yu, when this "Thunderstorm" will take the stage to pay tribute.
In each version of "Thunderstorm", the cast is particularly eye-catching. This time, the three actors successfully "upgraded": Pu Cunxin from Zhou Ping to Zhou Puyuan, Gong Lijun from Xuanyi to Lu Mama, and Bai Hui from Sifeng to play Xuanyi. In this regard, Gong Lijun, who has been playing Xuanyi since 1989, said, "I never thought that I could play a second role for more than 30 years, the process is quite difficult, and I constantly deny myself to go forward." ”
Data chart: 1989 ren art "Thunderstorm", Pu Cunxin played Zhou Ping
In the latest version, Pu Cunxin was "upgraded" to Zhou Puyuan
In the 2004 renyi "Thunderstorm", Gong Lijun played Fanyi
In the latest version, Gong Lijun transformed into Lu Ma
In the 2020 ren art "Thunderstorm", Bai Hui played Si Feng
In the latest version, Bai Hui changed to play Xuan Yi
In addition, Li Hongtao played Lu Gui, Wang Junqi played Zhou Ping, Chen Hongxu played Si Feng, and powerful veterans and young actors formed a new "Thunderstorm" crew, Li Hongtao revealed, "This version will be fresh and bright and easy to accept."
Li Hongtao plays Lu Gui
Wang Junqi plays Zhou Ping
Chen Hongxu plays Si Feng
Pu Cunxin told the creative concept: the play will use the commentary, the ancient song "Chaotou Phoenix", the dancer Shen Peiyi will be the shape design, and the newly created music will also supplement the feelings of Cao Yu that literature cannot interpret.
Text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Guo Jia
Photo / Beijing Youth Daily reporter Wang Xiaoxi
Editor/Ying Qiao