In August 2021, a stage play called "2:22 a ghost story" (hereinafter referred to as "2:22") premiered at the Noel Coward Theater in London's West End. Before the official debut of this work, people paid more attention to whether the heroine in the first round of the play, British pop singer Lily Allen, was qualified for her West End stage debut. After the opening night, "2:22" showed a strong marketability. The following year, it won multiple awards and nominations at the Whatsonstage and Laurence Olivier Awards, two important British awards ceremonies. Its popularity even made the show Screenwriter Danny Robbins was surprised.
In the first half of 2022, Damai paid attention to this work "of course there is a drama". Cui Hao, the co-producer of the play, recalled that when he read the script for the first time, he felt that "2:22" was a high-quality stage work that was both artistic and commercial. Although its own suspense and thriller elements were attractive, There are many reasons for viewers to come to the theater, but if you calm down and watch this work, you will find that as a "British living room drama", it promotes the development of the plot through intensive dialogue between different characters. The narrative structure and emotional expression are very touching. Cui Hao said, "Just like the character 'Sam' created by screenwriter Danny Robbins, you can see his profound knowledge from "2:22", involving physics, psychology, history and culture, art, film and television, etc. aspect. In this production of the Chinese version, Director Zhang Hui has tried his best to retain his original British atmosphere. In addition, the screenwriter has buried many knowledge points in the play and the stage details that need to be discovered by the audience themselves. Produce the desire to watch the drama again and again. "
Chinese version of "2:22" stills.
This time, the Chinese version of "2:22" is produced. Damai "Of course there is a show" continues to invite actors who have successively collaborated on two stage works of "Mixed, Zheluo or Salad" and "Tanning", and have gained countless reputations among young theater audiences. Directed by outstanding young screenwriter and director Zhang Hui, the play will also be staged at the Beijing Poly Theater from April 19th to 21st. Before the Chinese version of "2:22" premiered, the Beijing News talked with director Zhang Hui and listened to her tell the story behind the creation.
A realistic drama that can withstand scrutiny
Beijing News: Before seeing the stage presentation of this work, the most praised thing about "2:22" is Danny Robbins' script writing. How did you feel when you first saw the script?
Zhang Hui: The first impression of is that it is mature. It is not only a realistic drama that can withstand scrutiny, but also has commercial qualities. In the process of reading the script, I was completely attracted by the atmosphere he created and the interlocking plot development. With each plot advancement, you can feel a shift in suspense, which feels very good. Later, during the rehearsal process, we discovered more and more new things. It was very enjoyable to watch the relationship between these characters being established little by little.
Beijing News: Compared with similar suspense and thriller works, what do you think makes "2:22" outstanding?
Zhang Hui: is more realistic than similar themes. Unlike some of the "ghost stories" we usually see, in order to create a scary atmosphere, the storyline and character status are very one-sided. In the work "2:22", each character's reaction to the matter of being "haunted" is very real. They all express their own views on the matter in their own prescribed situations, without making the work too confusing. Suspenseful and thrilling, it becomes mysterious. All the plots happen naturally, and we can also get a glimpse of the screenwriter's understanding of a certain relationship between people and the world.
In "2:22", everyone expresses their own views on this matter in their own prescribed situations.
Beijing News: What impressed you about the character setting and narrative techniques of "2:22"?
Zhang Hui: First of all, every character in the play has its own characteristics. For example, the heroine Jenny, as a new mother, has always obeyed the words of "Sam", a physicist, until the "ghost" incident occurred, and she suddenly realized that she could no longer go on like this. .Is it really just because this happened? In fact, no, maybe because after having a child, she had a new way of sorting out and feeling about her life, and the "ghost" incident was just a breaking point.
In addition, the screenwriter also set up several points of opposition between the characters, such as class opposition, the relationship between intellectuals and ordinary workers; the confrontation between the lizard brain and the monkey brain, which originated from the American neuroscientist Paul MacLean He believes that the monkey brain represents the new mammalian brain, responsible for "reason and language"; the lizard brain refers to the reptilian brain complex area, representing "instinct"; the mouse brain refers to the old mammalian brain, controlling "desires" ". In this drama, most of the talk is about the "confrontation between the lizard brain and the monkey brain", but I think the rat brain that is not mentioned is more important. As the desire in human emotions, the rat brain has been adding fuel to the flames, like a wave of The undercurrent holds a lot of things. As a comedian, the screenwriter
actually created some thought-provoking humor in the dialogues of these characters in the play, which will keep the audience smiling during certain plot developments. Therefore, "2:22" In addition to its own suspense and thriller attributes, it is also a comedy that combines horror with the undercurrent of life.
The screenwriter created some intriguing humor in the dialogues between the characters in the play.
Beijing News: How is "2:22" different from the themes you have directed before?
Zhang Hui: This is a work that relies on dialogue between characters to promote the development of the entire plot. In my opinion, the propositions discussed in this drama are very traditional, that is, topics such as "Where should humans go?" including the confrontation between the lizard brain and the monkey brain that we just mentioned, but the mouse brain that was not mentioned is desire and emotion. The main motivation is the final result of enduring and venting. The most valuable thing about this work is that the screenwriter does not emphasize the "value" of certain points of view. I think that no matter which point of view the audience holds, or which person in the play they are more like, they can all understand in "2 :22》Find the corresponding angles and footings.
does not deliberately create a sense of "thriller", and the audience will have more new discoveries after the second viewing.
Beijing News: The two concepts of suspense, thriller and realism coexist in the same work, which makes people have to think of "idealism" and "materialism" "There are two parallel doctrines. How does a director balance the relationship between the two in the play?"
Zhang Hui: First of all, I think materialism is a tool and method for us humans to understand the world. If everything is unknowable, or everything cannot be controlled and explained, we humans will not be able to truly understand it. world. In this work, there are many issues discussed, which are not limited to the discussion between so-called materialism and idealism, but also include the class antagonism we mentioned before, gender antagonism, intimate relationships in marriage, and also talk about female unity and many other issues. topic.
I think the reason why the script is well written is that the screenwriter did not tell the story of "ghosts" one-sidedly, but expressed their respective attitudes towards the matter of "ghosts" through the chats and debates of the characters in the play. As far as I can tell, this is the only play he has written. He has made a program on BBC about supernatural exploration. He has always believed that the whole world is concerned about "ghosts" and the so-called sighting of "ghosts". It is extremely unfair to call these people "ghosts". Most people think that these people must be too stressed or have mental problems. Therefore, among the four characters in this drama, one of them is a psychiatrist. I think This is also a special intention of the screenwriter.
The screenwriter expresses their respective attitudes through the chats and debates of the characters in the play.
Beijing News: As for "British Living Room Drama", you actually rehearsed Harold Pinter's " Betrayal " many years ago. What are the more challenging aspects of rehearsing this type of drama?
Zhang Hui: Although the character relationships in dramas such as are not complicated, the amount of lines is huge, which is a great test for the actors' performances.During the rehearsal process, while trying to maintain the original British atmosphere, we must constantly explore the actors' truest expression and most accurate performance state of each line in the prescribed situation at this moment. At the same time, the content the actors give each other each time they perform is also changing. In a large situation, every slight change in a small situation must be reflected immediately and truly in the actor's performance, which is very difficult.
Beijing News: The on-site look and feel of suspense and thriller-themed works is very important. As a director, what kind of on-site feel will you create for the audience?
Zhang Hui: "2:22" is indeed a work with a suspenseful and thrilling viewing experience. There are many chilling moments during the viewing process, but don't forget that it is also a very beautiful realism masterpiece. Therefore, in terms of stage performance techniques, we will never deliberately "scare" the audience in certain situations without any reason. This technique itself will make people feel uncomfortable and create a bad perception.
"2:22" itself is a very beautiful realism masterpiece.
Beijing News: What kind of mentality do you hope the audience will have when they enter the theater to watch this work?
Zhang Hui: In fact, I have always felt that if the promotion only said that this work is a suspense thriller, it might be a bit unfair to the script and our creation. I think when some memories are intertwined with stage details, the audience must still have the urge to watch it a second time. I believe that when he watches it again, he will have different feelings and new discoveries.
Beijing News reporter Liu Zhen
editor Xu Meilin
proofreader Li Lijun
