On March 22, the rehearsal site of Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun" welcomed a group visit. The upgraded version of the play will be unveiled at the Mei Lanfang Grand Theater on April 2.
Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun" is produced by the Propaganda Department of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, produced by the Beijing Performing Arts Group, performed by the Beijing Hebei Bangzi Theater Troupe, and supported by the Propaganda Department of the Miyun District Party Committee. The play is based on the "Ten Sisters Commando" who participated in the construction of the Miyun Reservoir in 1958. As a representative figure, through the perspective of team leader Wang Xiulan, we look back at the great achievements made in the protection and construction of the Miyun Reservoir from the beginning to the present, spanning more than 60 years of historical changes in the Miyun Reservoir.
After the successful premiere of Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun" at Chang'an Grand Theater from January 10 to 11, it was fully recognized by experts and audiences; from early to mid-March, the play conducted 10 tours in five districts in the suburbs of Beijing. The venue was lively and there were constant cheers. In order to present the play perfectly, the entire crew gathered together, went back behind the scenes to work on it, and got ready to start again.
Rehearsal scene of Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun" Photo courtesy of Beijing Performing Arts Group
A big band of more than 20 people played in the small theater of Hebei Bangzi Theater Company in Beijing. The actors were rehearsing enthusiastically on the stage without the blessing of stage design and costumes. The loud voice of Hebei Bangzi and the passionate energy of the group dance still infected everyone. After the rehearsal of the newly revised and added scene, the creators and starring actors of Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun" communicated with the audience about the play.
At the event, Li Jie, the director of Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun" introduced to everyone that the touching stories that emerged during the construction of Miyun Reservoir more than 60 years ago inspired our creative inspiration. After more than a year of incubation, research, and rehearsals, During the process, the entire crew also integrated the reservoir builders' spirit of not being afraid of hardships and fighting bravely into every aspect of the work, truly absorbing and inheriting the spirit of the times.
Director Li Jie said that this revival will be based on the goal of "deep cultivation, enriching flavor and color", and finely polishing the plot, stage design, music, costumes, etc., such as enriching the music and singing, enhancing the excitement of the opera's movements, Increase emotional concentration, etc. I hope to convey the people’s power, the spirit of the times, and the ideas of ecological civilization in this Beijing theme and Beijing story to everyone through literary and artistic works.
The 85-year-old vocal designer Li Shitiao and the 78-year-old music designer Zhu Weiying are senior experts in the industry. Regardless of their advanced age, they still continue to make adjustments and modifications based on the rehearsal situation on site. Li Shitiao said that this polishing not only highlighted the soft style of the singing to better suit the characters of the "Ten Sisters"; it also added new arias to highlight the conflicts in the plot. Zhu Weiying introduced that in terms of music, rhythm changes have been added, the orchestra formation has been expanded by one-third compared with traditional operas, and the multi-voice melody highlights the image of modern operas.
Rehearsal scene of Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun" Photo courtesy of Beijing Performing Arts Group
Wang Hongling, director of Beijing Hebei Bangzi Theater Troupe, winner of the Chinese Drama "Plum Blossom Award" and starring in Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun", also shared. "I played the protagonist Wang Xiulan in her twenties and her fifties respectively in the play. It was a big challenge to switch repeatedly between different ages and backgrounds. It was even more challenging to play a role model representative who has made outstanding contributions. It is even more difficult, so I have done a lot of homework for this, reviewing information, collecting stories on the spot, conducting research and discussions..."
In order to better understand and shape the characters, the leading actors of "Ten Sisters of Miyun" Wang Hongling, Yang Xiuqin, and Ma Zhao recently went to Miyun I visited Wang Jianhua, the captain of the prototype character "Ten Sisters Commando". The old man is over 80 years old, but he was still very energetic when he talked about the scene when the reservoir was built. He told many details at that time. The actors were very moved and inspired. During the re-rehearsal, the harvest will be integrated into the performance to more accurately interpret the spirit of the ancestors who fought against heaven and earth and fought hard.
The main crew went to Miyun to visit the elderly Wang Jianhua (middle). Photo provided by Beijing Performing Arts Group
This time, Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun" gathered famous actors and actresses, including two winners of the "Plum Blossom Award" for Chinese dramas from Beijing's Hebei Bangzi Theater Troupe. Wang Hongling and Wang Yinghui, national first-class actors Yang Xiuqin and Jin Minhao joined hands with a group of young actors, and the three generations of old, middle and young people in the troupe performed the performance passionately, highlighting the bright and vigorous characteristics of Hebei Bangzi Opera and the vitality of the troupe's vigorous inheritance.
Dong Ning, deputy general manager of Beijing Performing Arts Group, said that Hebei Bangzi's "Ten Sisters of Miyun" not only demonstrates the spirit of the times, but also extends the spirit of the times, focusing on the theme of Miyun Reservoir and reflecting the changes in Beijing and the country. We will continue to contribute to the construction of Beijing as a national cultural center, the city of performing arts, and the creation of the cultural business card of "Watch Beijing in a Big Show".
