The Origin of Wu Drama

Wu Opera originated in the middle of Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 400 years. Wu Opera is known as the "living fossil" of Anhui Opera because of its rich repertoire, profound tradition, rich characteristics and far-reaching influence. 200 years ago, four Hui classes entered Beijing, which combined the strengths of Huang Er, Xipi and Qin Kun and evolved into Peking Opera. Anhui opera itself is getting weaker and weaker, and even its birthplace, Anhui, has gradually disappeared due to the influence of the return of Peking Opera. Wu Opera, a branch of Huizhou Opera, went south long before Huiban entered Beijing. It is one of the most complete operas in China. It has more than 800 plays and more than 3000 songs. Mei Lanfang, a master of Beijing Opera, once praised Wu Opera: "The predecessor of Beijing Opera is Hui Opera. If you want to find your ancestors in Peking Opera, it seems that you have to find them in martial arts. "

Under the destruction of the old society, Wu opera artists were displaced, leaving only a few drama clubs in Jinhua area in the early days of liberation. After liberation, under the guidance of the party's policy of "letting a hundred flowers blossom", Wu Opera was reborn. 1953 Zhejiang Provincial Bureau of Culture established Jinhua Special Zone Wu Opera Experimental Troupe and Zhejiang Wu Opera Experimental Troupe with private assistance. 1954 decided to establish Zhejiang Wu Opera Troupe. Subsequently, most counties in the whole region successively established Wu Drama Troupe. In order to make Wu Opera a success, Zhejiang Wu Opera Troupe recruited a large number of young actors such as Zheng Lanxiang and Wu Guangyu in 1955, and Zhejiang Cultural Bureau established the Wu Opera Class of Zhejiang Opera School in Hangzhou in 1958. This class has recruited 45 actors and bands in the whole province, and is a junior college student of the first generation of Wu Opera in New China. After graduation, he was assigned to all Wu Theater troupes in the province.

From 65438 to 0957, a large opera performance was held in the whole province. Under the leadership of party committees at all levels, Wu Opera gives full play to the enthusiasm of old artists and new literary and art workers. On the one hand, the traditional repertoires were sorted out one by one, on the other hand, the traditional art was excavated and rescued, and the Collection of Traditional Repertoires of Wu Opera and the Music and Hui Opera of Wu Opera were recorded and published, so that most traditional repertoires and aria were preserved. A number of outstanding traditional repertoires, such as Golden Seal, Sending Meal, Sun Bin and Pang Juan, Knocking on the Window for a Thousand Miles, Meeting Father and Son, Sprinkling on the Horse, were sorted and processed. Editors, directors, voice actors, beautiful women and actors won comprehensive awards.

From 65438 to 960, Mao Zedong, president, warmly affirmed and encouraged the excellent traditional play "Peony Listening to the Class" of Wu Opera in Hangzhou, and cordially received outstanding young actors such as Zheng Lanxiang. 1962, the martial arts drama went to Beijing for the first time to perform such repertoires as Princess Shuangyang, Inviting Pear Flowers Three times, Knocking on the Window at the Dinner Bar, Peony Facing the Class, Meeting Monks and Monks, Broken Bridge, etc., which were highly praised by literary and art experts in the capital. Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Chen Yi, Peng Zhen and other party and state leaders gave warm affirmation and encouragement after watching the performance. Zhou Enlai watched three performances and invited some actors to Zhongnanhai for a long and cordial conversation. Tian Han, a famous dramatist, also dedicated poems to the performance of Zhejiang Wu Troupe.

During the ten-year turmoil, Wu Opera was looted. After the downfall of the Gang of Four, especially since the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party, Wu Opera has gained a new life. Wu Troupe, which was destroyed in the Cultural Revolution, resumed its performance. The excellent traditional plays that have been imprisoned for many years meet the audience again. His new works include Tears of Stone, Pear Blossom Prison, Tielingguan, Bailuniang, Begging Uncle, Shang Yang's Reform, Blood Sword, Jealousy Worship, Li Yu's Biezhuan and Hu Yi Case. Modern dramas such as Dear Baby, Lei Feng, Lei Feng, Peach Storm, etc. Among them, Tears of Beauty and Pear Flower Prison were screened by changchun film studio and Central News Film Studio respectively.

After the reform and opening up, great changes have taken place in rural areas, and amateur Wu Opera troupes have sprung up in rural areas. According to the statistics of 1982, there are 554 in Jinhua, showing a steaming new scene, which has made positive contributions to building socialist spiritual civilization and enriching rural cultural life. 1984, China Drama Publishing House filmed Sisterhood (an ancient screenwriter) performed by Wu Troupe in Zhoushan Town, Yongkang County, and distributed it nationwide. 1985, Wu Opera Troupe in Yiting District of Yiwu City went to the capital to perform the famous historical drama "Hai Rui Dismissed from Office" at the joint invitation of the Beijing Municipal Political Consultative Conference and Tsinghua University, which was well received. A rural troupe's performance in Beijing not only promoted the development of Wu Opera, but also won glory for Zhejiang.