This play "Home" has been performed for over a decade, and teachers and students from the Central Academy of Drama have landed on the traditional stage of Shanghai | Era | Stage
"From 1920 to 1921, it was the era of 'Home'..." On August 18th and 19th, the Experimental Theater Troupe of the Central Academy of Drama will appear at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with the musical 'Home'. The main creative team continuously adjusts the plot structure and enriches the vocal design based on respecting Ba Jin's original work. This not only inherits the spirit of the May Fourth Movement, but also explores contemporary expressions that are close to the audience, continuing the contemporary value of classic works.
The musical "Family" is adapted from a novel of the same name by Ba Jin, telling the story of the decadence and decline of the feudal family "Gao Family" in Sichuan in the early 1920s. With the fate of the three brothers Juexin, Juemin, and Juehui, as well as the fates of Ruijue, Meifen, and Mingfeng, it accuses the feudal system of destroying life and praises the determination of young people to break through barriers and the awakening of democratic consciousness.
"Home" includes 28 songs such as "Phoenix Jue Plum", "Awakening", and "Youth Quartet", integrating Sichuan characteristic folk songs, traditional opera, etc., such as Sichuan lyrics for wedding guests, and Beijing opera "Ma Gu Xian Shou" to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Gao. The dance section incorporates elements of Chinese classical dance, ethnic folk dance, and Chinese opera. After confirming their love, Juehui and Mingfeng dance in pairs, using body language to enrich the entire play. Dance design draws inspiration from traditional Chinese architecture and the traditional Chinese character "Tian", from wedding banquets adorned with red lights and candles, the intricately arranged plum blossoms, to the high courtyard of a high-rise building with sloping stairs, using realistic techniques to reshape the narrative scene of "Home".
In 2011, the musical "Home" premiered at the first International College Student Drama Festival. In 2018, the musical film "Home" produced by China National Theatre was promoted to theaters nationwide. In 2021, "Home" was invited to participate in the fourth Beijing Tianqiao Musical Performance Season. This time, the Experimental Theater Troupe of the Central Academy of Drama is coming to Shanghai, continuing the tradition of "teachers and students on the same stage, teaching and learning together" in Chinese opera. "Home" gathers many excellent teachers and students from the academy.
"Sing youth with youth, dance youth with youth, and shape and showcase youth with youth." Director Liu Hongmei said, "Whether it's a veteran actor or a young actor, on stage, as long as they have light in their eyes and warmth in their hearts, they can shape different roles." Composer Dai Jinsong recalled the creative process, "I have to play all the characters at home, and only by doing the actions can I find the rhythm and technology that can support the content." Screenwriter and lyricist Chen Xiaoling said, "It took more than a decade to start with the 50 minute ethnic theme of the College Student Drama Festival and gradually polish the musical" Home "."
"Before scheduling 'Home', we had a year of preparation. Starting from reading novels, we had students divide into groups and search for information on the character's attire, gestures, and lifestyle habits. Director Li Xionghui used 'Juexin' as an example, 'To play Juexin, we need to understand where he was born, how he grew up, and when he fell in love with Mei Fen. If the novel doesn't mention it, the actors need to explore it themselves, only in this way can they have a tacit understanding of their performance.'"
