The novel "Massage" by the famous writer Bi Feiyu, which won the Mao Dun Literature Award, explores the living conditions and spiritual world of a group of blind massage therapists from a unique perspective. It has been adapted into movies, TV series, and plays, and has attracted

The novel "Massage" by the famous writer Bi Feiyu, which won the Mao Dun Literature Award, explores the living conditions and spiritual world of a group of blind masseurs from a unique perspective. It has been adapted into movies, TV series, and plays, and has attracted widespread attention. This year, "Massage" was adapted into a large-scale modern Yangju opera by the Jiangsu Provincial Performing Arts Group Yangzhou Opera Troupe. It was put on the opera stage for the first time and was selected as a play in the "Excellent Drama Exhibition" of the 8th Chinese Opera Culture Week. It was recently performed at Beijing Tianqiao Theater .

The director of the play, Guo Xiaonan, was also the director of the drama version of "Massage" that year. Over the years, he has created a large number of masterpieces for various troupes across the country. The Yang opera "Massage" he directed this time has won the Outstanding Play and Outstanding Actor Award at the 2024 Zijin Culture and Art Festival and the "Drama Silver Award" in the icac International Creative Art Competition. Around the creation of the play, the reporter conducted an exclusive interview with him.

The performance of "Massage" in Yang opera was just right

"This is my first time directing a Yang opera, and I fully felt the art of using this type of opera. It can be said that using Yang opera to perform "Massage" is particularly appropriate." Guo Xiaonan said that he has directed two versions of "Massage" in drama and Yang opera. On the one hand, he was attracted by the unique perspective of the original work. "Bi Feiyu's novel reveals The psychological and emotional journey of disabled people, as well as their pursuit of a better life and desire for a bright soul, provide rare new material for stage art. "On the other hand, it is also because of the genes of "Massage" and the region contained in Yang Opera. Cultural context and folk customs The temperament has a profound resonance. "The water town in northern Jiangsu is the source of Bi Feiyu's literary creation, and Yang opera was born in this land." Guo Xiaonan believes that directing the Yang opera "Massage" is his study of local operas. A rare opportunity for expansion.

Yangzhou Opera is one of the first local operas selected as national intangible cultural heritage in my country. Its music is a combination of music and music, which was absorbed by Yangzhou Flower Drum Opera and North Jiangsu Incense Opera. Developed from Zhou Qing opera and folk song minors, it has a long history and rich tunes. It not only contains the feminine beauty of Huagu Opera, but also the masculinity of Incense Opera, as well as the meaningful freshness and emotional change of folk songs and Qing opera, while also retaining It reflects the simple and lively local characteristics and life atmosphere. In Guo Xiaonan’s view, compared to dramas, local operas such as Yangju opera have unique voices, tunes and regional characteristics. At the same time, they pay more attention to the skills of the profession, hand, eye, body and step to interpret characters, and are better at expressing through music and singing. The thoughts and feelings of the characters have the unique passion and charm of opera art. "I hope that through the Yangzhou opera "Massage", audiences who are not familiar with Yangju opera can feel the euphemistic and elegant musical charm and fall in love with the theater aesthetics and audio-visual enjoyment brought by this Yangju opera." He is also looking forward to this film. The work can become an important breakthrough and innovative attempt in the history of the development of Yang Opera.

Actors experienced the life of a blind masseur in depth

In order to create the Yang drama "Massage", Jiangsu Provincial Performing Arts Group Yang Theater specially arranged a series of experience activities for the actors, including attending massage classes at schools for the blind, and The massage center provides on-site observation and experience, and experts from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine are invited to guide the actors in massage techniques.

Guo Xiaonan also put forward strict requirements for the actors, asking them to blindfold themselves, rely only on hearing to judge the direction and route, and experience first-hand the living conditions of blind people. At the same time, the technology of Chinese opera also provides actors with flexible expression methods, making the image of the blind man they create on the stage more convincing to the audience.

Guo Xiaonan also emphasized the importance of the creation of small characters: "The search for the value of life by small people can touch the hearts of the audience. The small people on the stage actually magnify life and magnify life, thus making the audience feel emotional. The resonance, vibration of the mind and soul, this is the charm of drama."

The three criteria for rehearsing plays from an "award-winning professional"

As a productive and high-quality director from an "award-winning professional", Guo Xiaonan said, "I have three standards for rehearsing plays. I must be responsible for the type of play, the troupe, and the repertoire." With such standards, you will not relax in your study and research. "Every time

accepts a new creative task, he must conduct a comprehensive study of the drama, including the history, characteristics, genres and limitations of the drama, before considering how to create a work. "It is not so much my choice as a professional director. The type of drama, or rather every time a creation appears in front of me, is a consideration of my ability. "Guo Xiaonan is full of a sense of mission and responsibility, "The dazzling Chinese civilization and the profound drama culture are always worth exploring, cultivating and creating, and inheriting and carrying forward the nation's excellent traditional culture and Chinese aesthetics while keeping integrity and innovation. Spirit.”

Source: Beijing Daily client

Reporter: Wang Run