Why is this spy drama still being revised? , won the Wenhua Award
"No one knows their names, but their achievements will live forever!" On July 3rd and 4th, the Shanghai Peking Opera Theater's modern Peking Opera "Heroes of Longtan" was staged at the Wanping Theater with a brand new look after major revisions and improvements.
"Heroes of Longtan" was written by Li Li and Zhang Yu, directed by Yang Xiaoqing, and starred by Lan Tian, Dong Hongsong, Tian Hui and others. It is based on the deeds of revolutionary heroes who have long worked in the secret front of the Communist Party of China. It tells the story of them lurking inside the enemy, providing our party with a lot of valuable intelligence, and vowing to defend the safety of our party to the death in critical moments, not afraid of sacrifice, and making outstanding contributions.
"Our singing style has been updated, and it is more high-pitched and passionate than before." The lead actor Lan Tian said that in order to figure out the role, he thought for a long time about how to get the details right, and even consulted the creators of the dance drama "The Eternal Waves". According to the director Yang Xiaoqing's instructions, Lan Tian adjusted the handling of key scenes to be closer to the character's situation. "As a new era artist, I sing the play well with perseverance, inherit the opera culture, and tell the Chinese story well."
Before the performance, Zhang Fan, director of the Shanghai Peking Opera Theater, said to the crew, "The Heroes of Longtan has been revised and rehearsed for nearly two months, and tonight's performance has reached the most critical moment." At the 2022 China Art Festival, screenwriter Li Li won the Wenhua Screenwriter Award for the play. Why did it need to be revised and re-staged? Zhang Fan said that this is the consistent working attitude of the Shanghai Peking Opera Theater in the face of original new repertoires. "The five golden characters of the Shanghai Peking Opera Theater need to be polished by every performer and staff. Everyone is adjusted to the best state, and the focus is focused on the stage. The actors behind the leading actors are full of emotions and immersed in the play."
In "Longtan Heroes", the protagonist Li Jianfei, who penetrated into the heart of the enemy, had many confrontations with the evil head of the Central Bureau of Investigation Jiang Yihai and the General Secretary of the Central Bureau of Investigation Zhang Lai. In particular, a series of contests around the key to cracking important intelligence - the advanced code book, made the audience hold their breath and sweat. What also moved the audience was Li Jianfei's family - his wife Ye Hua fought side by side with Li Jianfei, passed on intelligence and provided rear support, and his daughter Li Yun was brave and resourceful at a young age. Communist Party members Hu Zhaoxiong, Long Ke and others were not afraid of sacrifice, and guarded the "red flower seeds" at the critical moment, recreating the legend of the wisdom and courage of the red agents, which deeply moved the audience.
The stage details of "Longtan Heroes" are carefully designed, from costumes, props to scene layout, all full of suspense of spy dramas. The protagonists live in a highly tense atmosphere. They need to be vigilant at all times to avoid being exposed and arrested, while paying close attention to everything around them to obtain useful intelligence information. Multimedia blessing brings an immersive viewing experience to the audience.
Yang Xiaoqing and the main creative team carefully polished the performance scheduling, space processing, lighting, stage design, and music of "Longtan Heroes". When modern stage design meets the red agents, it not only reproduces the ever-changing revolutionary era, but also highlights the image of heroes who go deep into the dragon's den and tiger's lair, wise and brave. The use of music and colors reflects modern aesthetics, and some light-hearted and humorous elements are interspersed in the tense plot. The use of multiple music makes the audience feel a little relaxed in the tense and exciting atmosphere.
