It will be another busy night for Wei San. He has three shows to
present from 5 pm to 12 pm in three different places. So do his other
colleagues at the Great Peace Theatre, a renowned privately-run
Errenzhuan troupe in Changchun China tour deals, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province.
During the past three years, Wei, together with his partners, have had to present 60 to 80 performances every month.
"I never thought Errenzhuan could be so charming," Wei said. "It is really amazing."
Errenzhuan is a popular folk art which has enjoyed great popularity
in the northeastern part of the country, particularly in rural areas,
with bold, extravagant theatrical spectacles based on popular legends
and fairy tales with lots of singing, dancing and slapstick comedy.
"Errenzhuan is one of the only three indigenous theatre forms in the
Northeast, along with Pingju Opera and Huanglong Opera," said Wang
Muxiao, deputy director of the Art Research Center of Jilin Province China best tours. "It represents the key features of people in this region -- facetious, passionate and straightforward."
There is a stock repertoire of stories -- "The Blue Bridge," "Judge
Bao Makes an Apology" and "The Western Chamber." Though the
presentations vary, certain elements are always present.
Six features
Errenzhuan features six parts. First, there is a 10 to 15 minute
noisy prelude called datong. Then comes the clown and his partner, for
the sanchangwu. The third part is changshitou, designed to keep the
audience quiet. The next is shuokou, which introduces the backdrop of
the story. And the fifth is changxiaomao, in which performers sing
special folk songs to set the tone of the story. Finally comes the main
part of the performance -- changzhenwen, in which the performers sing,
dance and tell the story.
One of their main aims is to keep the audience amused, throwing in jokes, acrobatics or Kung fu if interest flags.
300 years of history
Errenzhuan -- or "bengbeng" as it used to be called -- dates back to
the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). But its existence was rarely documented
because it developed among the common people. The earliest record of the
art form was found in 1822, which said "bengbeng was held in the Puji
Temple Fair of Huide in Jilin Province."
Errenzhuan developed from yangge dance, very popular in North China
for its strong rhythm and loud accompaniment of gongs and drums. Yangge
is usually performed to celebrate sowing and planting in rural areas.
"The most important feature of Errenzhuan is its capacity to absorb
other influences," said Wang Zhaoyi, honorary president of Errenzhuan
Arts Association in Changchun. "It has borrowed from Hebei Bangzi,
Lianhualao and Taiping Drum -- three popular art forms in North China."
More recently, it has started to incorporate rap and pop, as well as new forms of acrobatics and folk songs.
"Its never-ending absorption of new 'nutrients' and excretion of the outdated has helped it survive," said Wang.
Errenzhuan's intimate connection with daily life also helps it
capture audiences, said Gong Qingshan, general director of the Great
Peace Theatre popular China travel package.
"Unlike other folk arts, it tells the stories happening around us
every day," said Gong. "We know what people hate or like and we are
ready to meet their demands."
Last year's World Cup, the Iraq war and the ongoing battle against
SARS are among its current concerns, generating "a flock of new fans."
There is a popular saying in Northeast China: "I will do without a meal, but don't deny me my Errenzhuan."
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