The movie Jiang Se is currently preparing to film is "Devil". Musicals and light comedies are not her choices at this time.
Her eyes fell on "Begonia Autumn", and she was a little surprised:
"The last time this drama was broadcast was more than 50 years ago."
This is a work from the Republic of China period. It was adapted into a drama at the time and caused quite a sensation.
Dong Chaoping looked at Jiang Se with some surprise and gave him a thumbs up:
“I didn’t expect you knew this.”
As the Chinese people have more entertainment options, the performance programs of the Imperial Capital Theater have kept pace with the times in recent years, introducing many classic foreign musicals and more performance methods, and many traditional dramas have been shelved.
This work, "Haitang Qiu", was written by Mr. Qin Sipei. It caused a sensation when it was published. The story focuses on the Peking Opera artist Haitangqiu, who was appreciated by the warlord for his poem "Su San's Release". Later, he met and fell in love with the warlord's third concubine, but was eventually persecuted by the warlord, lived in poverty, and finally committed suicide.
"The station has recently been re-staging some classic plays. Currently, "Begonia Autumn" is being rehearsed and is expected to be performed during the Spring Festival."
In fact, at this age, the arrangement of such plays is more based on reminiscence, satisfying the memories of some older people about that era.
To this day, many young people may not have heard of the work "Haitang Qiu". Dong Chaoping did not expect that Jiang Se would tell the time when "Haitang Qiu" was last performed as soon as he read the script.
"I've heard about it from my elders in the family before." Jiang Se answered lightly, and had no intention of mentioning the matter again. After talking to him for a few more words, he talked about the team of "Haitang Qiu" this time.
The Grand Theater took great pains to bring such a classic drama to the stage. After the decision was made to revive the classic, it took half a year just to select the actors for the drama, not to mention the rehearsals during that time. From the protagonist to the supporting roles, to the extras, everything was carefully considered.
"Look, which role do you want to try? The Third Concubine or Haitangqiu?"
Dong Chaoping smiled and asked, "I'll ask them to help you look after it."
The last time Jiang Se came to the theater to practice, she auditioned for both male and female roles in the drama, but most of the roles she played were supporting roles. The reason why Chang Yuhu asked her to practice at that time was mainly to let her put down her own "airs", so the roles she tried in the early days were not the protagonists in the play.
Dong Chaoping wanted to sell a good Chang Yuhu, and knowing that Jiang Se was only there to learn, not to temporarily participate in a drama, he generously offered the two male and female leading roles in "Begonia Autumn" to Jiang Se for a try.
Jiang Se looked at the script and said with a smile:
"I think the role of a warlord might be more suitable for me at the moment."
She glanced at Dong Chaoping:
"Who is playing the role of the warlord?"
She wanted to rehearse the role of a warlord, which was a little beyond Dong Chaoping's expectations. In "Begonia Autumn", the warlord is the worst character in the whole play, brutal and vicious. The performer is Liang Chunbo, who is quite famous in the drama world.
“This is a bit difficult.”
Dong Chaoping smiled bitterly twice. Liang Chunbo is an old artist who is already over 60 years old this year. Although his fame and status are not as good as Chang Yuhu's, his status in the drama world is also very unique.
This person has a stubborn and eccentric temper, and sometimes he doesn't listen to Dong Chaoping. This time he was invited back to play the warlord in "Begonia Autumn" because he likes this drama very much.
Such an old artist does not listen to Dong Chaoping. If Jiang Se wants to ask him for advice, what Dong Chaoping says may not work. She can only rely on herself to find a solution.
"It's okay. I won't embarrass you."
After agreeing with Dong Chaoping that she would come to study, Jiang Se did not rush to join the troupe's rehearsals. Instead, in addition to going to school and practicing dance every day, she would go to the women's prison to observe the expressions, eyes and body language of the prisoners. Occasionally, she would chat with people and mention the prisoners' lives before they went to prison.
Make time to go to the Grand Theater before the evening. Because of Dong Chaoping's previous words, Jiang Se chose to observe Liang Chunbo closely.
Whenever Liang Chunbo performed on stage, she would stand in the audience, watching his every move. He portrayed vividly the early smugness of a warlord, his admiration for Haitangqiu and his debauchery towards women, and his fury later on when he found out that the woman he admired had an affair with his third concubine, and then persecuted her without regard for their old friendship. Liang Chunbo portrayed the ruthlessness and coldness of a warlord vividly, and he handled the details very well. The emotional transition was natural, and it didn't feel awkward.
In comparison, the actor who played Haitangqiu felt much more suppressed in front of Liang Chunbo. Several times when Dong Chaoping came to watch the rehearsal progress, he frowned.
Jiang Se has been observing in the Grand Theater for a month. Most of the actors rehearsing for "Begonia Autumn" are very familiar with her. The drama will be released during the Spring Festival, and the rehearsal situation has been very intense recently. A group of main actors and substitute actors who are practicing with them often have to practice until nine or ten o'clock in the evening before they can rest.
Jiang Se usually comes over around six o'clock, sometimes even earlier, and stays with everyone until around ten o'clock.
On the rehearsal stage, the warlord played by Liang Chunbo was furious when he learned that his third concubine had an affair with Haitangqiu, and he ordered the maid who introduced them to each other to be beaten to death.
The lights backstage were bright, illuminating his expression and movements clearly. When he ordered the matchmaker to be beaten to death, he gritted his teeth, his eyelids drooped, his eyes slightly closed, and his cheeks were bitten to create an angle of coldness mixed with anger. The vivid movements immediately revealed the warlord's ruthlessness and fury.
After rehearsing this scene, Liang Chunbo went off the stage to rest. The staff of the troupe personally handed him a handkerchief. The rehearsal room was air-conditioned and crowded with people. The bright lights were on, so it was very hot inside. After acting for a while, his clothes were soaked with sweat.
Liang Chunbo took a handkerchief to wipe his face, and suddenly turned to ask Jiang Se:
"Xiao Jiang, you've been watching for a month. Have you figured out anything?"
Dong Chaoping was also in the crew, and was a little surprised to hear him take the initiative to talk to Jiang Se.
Ever since Jiang Se went to the Grand Theater to watch "The Begonia Autumn", most people in the crew have been very friendly to her. Most of the actors know that Jiang Se came here just to learn experience from everyone, not to steal jobs, so there is no competition. In addition, she is Chang Yuhu's apprentice, and Dong Chaoping is quite close to her, which has led to many people being very friendly to Jiang Se.
But for veteran actors like Liang Chunbo, the attitude was somewhat lukewarm. (To be continued)