The first speech of the key new play of the National Peking Opera Theatre “Positive and Prosperous” describes the path of young Mao Zedong’s search
The stills of “Positive Power”, Mao Zedong and Yang Kaihui in the play.Photo by Li Chunlai
Yesterday, the key new play of the National Peking Opera in 2021, the modern Peking Opera “The Wind and the Wind”, premiered at the Mei Lanfang Grand Theater as a participating work in the 9th China Peking Opera Art Festival. This is also the first time that the image of young Mao Zedong appeared in Peking Opera. on the stage.
This work is a revolutionary historical theme work meticulously created by the National Peking Opera Theatre in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. The play focuses on the young Mao Zedong from Hunan to Beijing, meets Li Dazhao, Chen Duxiu and other early Chinese communicators of Marxism-Leninism. In the baptism of new culture, new thoughts and new trends, inspired by the communist belief, he accompanies his lover, brothers, and comrades. Search up and down to find the way to save the country. The play not only portrays the young Mao Zedong, but also the image of revolutionary martyrs such as He Shuheng, Deng Zhongxia, Cai Hesen, Xiang Jingyu, Mao Zemin, Mao Zetan, Mao Zejian, and Mao Chuxiong.
The play is written by the gold medal screenwriter He Jiping, and directed by the famous director Gong Xiaodong. The conductor Liu Fengde, the singer Chen Jianzhong, the composer Yang Nailin and Wu Sheng, the stage design designer Zhang Wu, and the lighting designer Xing Xin are all big names in the industry. Famous artists such as Yuan Huiqin, Wei Jijun, Zhang Xiaoqing, Huang Bingqiang, etc. of the National Peking Opera Theatre are willing to act as green leaves, escorting the young starring Li Bo and Guo Xiao. Solid and rigorous script creation, original director expression, youthful and exciting stage presentation, exquisite and delicate actor performance, beautiful and moving music singing, and magnificent stage lighting, let the audience see a nice and thoughtful modern Peking opera work.
The first-class actor Li Bo plays Mao Zedong in the play. His performance not only has Peking opera formulas, but also has detailed and life-like modern expressions. He has shaped a youthful and thoughtful young Mao Zedong. Chairman Mao likes this detail of Peking opera, and it is also reflected in the play. He sang several classic verses in different situations. Yang Kaihui, played by Guo Xiao, is also very hierarchical, from a gentle girl who knows books and rituals to a smart and determined revolutionary. Yuan Huiqin played Mao Zedong’s mother, Wen Qimei, in the play, dedicating the most tender performance in the play, she created an ordinary and great mother image. The famous painter Wei Jijun plays Li Dazhao in the play. He can see many positive heroic figures in his body. There are scenes from the eyes to the actions, but the performance is very natural.
For such a newly created work, the audience often looks at it with thoughtful eyes, but they also find many bright spots. A theater fan from Tsinghua University said: “The work has the process of Mao Zedong’s pursuit of ideals and beliefs in his youth, the love story with Yang Kaihui, and the moment of tenderness with his mother. It makes me feel very cordial and has a strong sense of substitution. In the lyrics It uses a lot of Mao Zedong’s poems, which is a good highlight.” A theater fan from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics not only praised the dance, but also praised the arrangement of “Mao Zedong” singing traditional operas in the play, “especially the opening paragraph ” “Empty City Planning” not only fits the plot, but also makes the audience enjoyable.”
(original title:The key new play of the National Peking Opera Theatre premiered yesterday “Positive and Prosperous” tells the young Mao Zedong’s search for the road）
Source: Beijing Daily | Reporter Niu Chunmei
Process editor: u025
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