Ma Yanxiang Ma Yanxiang (1907-1988) was a Peking Opera theorist, director and playwright. Originally from Yinxian County, Zhejiang Province, he was born in Shanghai and graduated from the Department of Chinese of Fudan University in 1928. In his early years, he devoted himself to drama and film activities with famous dramatists Hong Shen and Ouyang Yuqian, and edited modern drama, drama times monthly magazine, drama bimonthly magazine and so on. In 1937, he co-edited the semi-monthly magazine "Anti-Japanese War Drama" in Hankou, and directed the adaptation of "The Roar of the Ancient City" by him. After the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, he went to Beijing to engage in journalistic work. Since 1953, he has participated in the adaptation and directing of the Peking opera "Liu Yin Ji", "Three Mountains", "Wu Zetian", "Forced to Liangshan" and so on.
Ma Yanxiang (right) performs "Sihano" at Fudan Drama Club
Mr. Mei Lanfang:
You sang four nights in Chunhe, it must have been very hard to come, I wanted to come to see you, there are a few words to talk to you, but when I think of many bodyguards around you, I can't help but be a little timid. It's not a joke, I don't tell a joke.
Among the average actor, I think you are a little more understanding person. This summer, I was lecturing on the subject of Drama and Opera at your National Drama Society, and when you heard me unceremoniously accusing old plays and old drama actors, you slipped away from the door. No, you didn't go, probably still listening outside the door, so you later expressed shame and said to me apologetically, "Your words are very right, and I think so, but, cough, there is no way!" They (referring to many of you around you) are older people, be stubborn! "These few words touched me very much at the time, and I felt that your situation was very pitiful, and there were many things that should not be blamed on you.
Mei Lanfang's "Mu Ke Zhai"
This time, you came to act, I did not go to see, but I walked through the door of Chunhe, saw your big repertoire advertisement, in addition, there is an English confession, which seems to read: "dr. mei lan-fang, the world-famous female imperonator and his troupe of artists..." This confession is barely translated into Chinese, which is "the world-famous Dr. Mei Lanfang dressed as a woman, and his troupe of artists...". After reading this confession, I really feel sorry for you. If you are not a fool, you will feel that such propaganda is simply insulting to you. Don't think that the Dan horns of sixteenth-century England were often played by men, and that Shakespeare wrote many love poems to them, yes, there is such a thing, but that it was in the sixteenth century, and you should not think that the famous American theater critic stark young said something good about you in the authoritative theater magazine "Theater Arts", that is the American perception of all new things. If they really admit that men and women are beautiful art, why haven't we heard of "American Mei Lanfang" on Broadway and Hollywood until now?
You play danjiao, which is famous in China and very popular with ordinary people, which is enough to be proud. As for your international standing, I think you don't have to try, but it's not helpful to you, or you're a little tired, and I don't know.
Taking a step back, if you must conquer foreigners and make foreigners admire and respect you, then you are still working art, I say art, I think you will not misunderstand pearls and delicate appearance and so on. Now, however, your attraction to foreign audiences is entirely the use of the words "men dressed as women", which is not only a bit similar to the magic field advertisement, but also makes people suspect that your position is completely caused by this, which is very unfavorable to you.
Mei Lanfang's "Lian Jinfeng"
Secondly, it is about your personal problem, that is, the qualification of the doctorate, you like to carry the "doctor" out of the motion, I think this is not very good. Not to mention that there are as many doctors as the carp across the river this year, which is no longer very valuable, that is, as far as the doctors themselves are concerned, there are various differences. For example, among your friends, there are two doctors, one is Hu Shizhi, a doctor of philosophy, and the other is Liu Bannong, a doctor of literature. You must believe that the acquisition of their doctoral qualification is not as easy as yours, and it is more or less a matter of effort.
You are said to be also a doctor of literature, but fortunately everyone knows you and does not talk about literature with you, so even if you can't even say the definition of literature, it doesn't matter, but when you think of yourself as a doctor of literature, it is inevitable that someone will ask you, such as me, pitiful, but a small "bachelor", know very little about literature, of course, please ask the "doctor" for advice, there are many problems, such as "drama and the times", "drama and life", "the value of the society of drama", etc., before you sing "Tai Zhen Wai Chuan" From the point of view, how should you answer me? Of course, I'm just talking about it, I don't really want you to reply, I don't mean to be embarrassed with you, but don't misunderstand it!
There are many things I want to say, but today "Yulin" is not ready to have a special number, so it has to be stopped, and the rest of the words will be discussed when there is an opportunity in the future.
I write this letter with a very sincere attitude, thinking that you can always see it. Not to mention that we are acquaintances, there is no slightest sense of evil, and your friends for many years, such as Zhang Zhanggong, Mr. Qi Rushan, etc., we are also acquaintances, which at least can serve as a guarantee for my attitude. However, recently, because I write "nonsense" every day, I have slipped my pen, although I try my best to pretend that my attitude is solemn, but occasionally or there are still places where the wording is not euphemistic, because of the relationship of time, I have to ask you to forgive. Good luck with your efforts!
("Yan Xiang Man Talk")