capa597597

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Chinese traditional and modern forms of performance and the use of stage props in them.

Preface

Through the lessons we learn this semester, I know that the connection between body and association is very important during the performance. Image that there are some real things around us and then start a no-physical show and combines association with physical activities. 

In performance practice, it is not only association but also many stage props can be used to help performance practice, such as tennis and sticks in lessons, and even more things that are common in life could help.

Moreover, the stage props also play a very important role during the performance. They can express emotions, moods and also ideas. They are really useful to reflect the unique performance style.

Therefore, I think of many Chinese traditional and modern forms of performance. For example, pingshu(storytelling), xiangsheng(crosstalk) and xiaopin(sketches), the stage props play a vital role in performances. They help supplement and polish language and physical performance and make the performance more colorful.

Part 1.                              Pingshu (storytelling)

Introduction and origin

Literally talking about the books.

It mainly focuses on telling the historical stories. The real stories are also mixed with some deductive stories, and also with the individual's personal understanding and emotional.

Legendary commentary originated in China's Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC to 256 BC). Modern people believe that the founder of the storytelling was Liu Jingting from the late Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty(1616 AD), initially only part of the rap art.

The popularity of storytelling originated from the Song Dynasty. Storytellers from all over the country spoke different stories to people in their native language and were therefore part of the dialect culture.

In the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period(1911 AD to 1912 AD), the performance of the storytelling was performed by a person sitting behind the table. The path featured folding fans and awake wood, and the clothing was a long gown. By the middle of the 20th century, tables and chairs, folding fans, and awake wood were used less and less. The main story is performance and the clothes are not fixed.

With the development of the times, performances were generally broadcast in the form of radios, so performances were mainly language-based. The changes of voices and ventriloquist(imitate some sounds) are examples of performance styles. Later the performance was put on the stages and screen more and more.

Use of stage props

Folding fans

As for the origin of the folding fan, there are two arguments. One theory originated in Japan and the other originated in China.

The origin of folding fans for storytelling comes from a story. 

The emperor traveled around and he raised a poem at a wonderful place. No one accepted the next sentence of the poem. One storyteller cleverly answered the next sentence. The emperor was very happy and he wanted to reward him. He did not expect him to do anything. He only wanted a fan from the emperor. So the emperor rewarded him with an inscription.

Since then, the storyteller has been given a fan, and when he gives a Pingshu show about the stories, everyone welcomes him. 

As for the pattern and text on the fan there is no specific requirement.

According to the librarian's preference, the folding fans can be selected.

You may have doubts, what does the storyteller do with the fan?

While performing, the fan can be used to enhance body movements and show stronger momentum. (8:33 12:55 17:21 in video)

Most of the time, the storyteller does not open the fan. This is also a performance style of storytelling, which enhances the audience's story in limited props. The sense of experience.

The actor's fan for storytelling is an ordinary paper folding fan. The actor uses it instead of gun weapon, brush, etc., virtual action or scenery. When performing martial arts, the swords and guns must be fanned. The actual storytelling actress himself can not open the fan, can only perform the characters in the story to open the fan, what the identity of the characters used to fan.

This is a performance style unique to the storytelling.

Gavel

As known as wakewood. Wakewood is a performance license for storytelling artists. It is a disciple who has completed his academic career. When he became a storyteller, he held a grand ritual and was passed on to the apprentice by the teacher. Apprentices took over the wood in order to perform their own independent performance. The teachers were different, therefore the size of the wakewood was also different.

The storyteller knocked it to stop the audience from speaking. It also means the beginning of the story. Knocking it at the end to make a preview of the next story also means that the story has come to an end.(0:29 18:27)

 Handkerchief

During the performance, the handkerchief can be folded to replace letters, books, tables, and books. It can also be used as a handkerchief to simulate the characters in the story to wipe sweat and wipe tears, but it can't be rubbed cleanly.

Part 2.                           Xiangsheng(crosstalk)

Introduction and origin

Literally "face and voice". It is a traditional form of Chinese comedy performance and one of the most popular forms of performance in China.

It is usually performed in the form of two people chatting, and sometimes it is a stand-up performance when a person chats with the audience. It is a form of comedy based on storytelling and jokes.

Sometimes singing or musical performances are added for performance.

It started as a street comedy show, but as time progressed, performers began to perform in teahouses and theaters. This form has been maintained until now, and more shows have been put on the screen.

We can usually see two performers dressed in traditional big coats, one standing beside the table and one standing behind the table, which is also a symbol of status. There are two characters in the show, one person has mainly duty to tell jokes named “dougen”, another person who named “penggen”  should cooperate and answer some questions, the latter usually standing behind the table. There are folding fans and some other stage props needed for the show on the table.

Modern xiangsheng is made up of four classic skills:

Speaking, Imitating, Teasing and Singing.

According to relevant records and speculation, the crosstalk originated from the folk octagonal drum. And began in the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty (1821-1850)

Use of stage props

There are many similarities between comic performances and storytelling performances. The usually crosstalk shows a table with two chairs, a gavel and a handkerchief.

Bamboo clappers 

 There is a special instrument for comic dialogue called bamboo clappers.

The legend was invented by the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty.

This instrument is very simple, but it is not easy to use. There are two performances and two hands are required to play at the same time.  One is long and another one is short. You can play different rhythm accompaniments based on the content of the crosstalk performance.It is an important lesson when performing exercises. It is also one of the essential capabilities for becoming a comic actor.

As one of the basic skills, many actors have been training since childhood. It is a great help for crosstalk performances, training hand-brain coordination, and training the speed and clarity of speech. It is also often used to match the singing part of comic dialogue.

Part 3                               Xiaopin(sketches)

Introduction and origin

It's like a short stage comedy. Good xiaopin usually give you a deeper understanding of something after you laugh.

It is not limited to a table or a chair, there is no limitation of the form and also no limit to the number of performers. It is more like a small movie.

The dress and stage props of the performers depend on the content of the performance. Sketches, or comedy sketches, refer to short (usually 15 to 20 minutes or so) comedy passages performed by one or two actors or people.

The performances of the sketches are very much like talk shows. There is a simple storyline. Through dialogues and actions, one or two comedy effects are completed, usually on the stage or on television.

This art form is a new artistic expression that was born in the Spring Festival Gala. Chen Peisi's short piece “Eat noodles” may be the first sketch. In addition, Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao created a precedent for Chinese skit.

Modern sketches have made great progress through the promotion of the CCTV Spring Festival Gala in the past 20 years, becoming an art form that the audience loves to see.

Sketches(Xiaopin) differ from comic dialogue in that the former is a new artistic expression and the latter is traditional Chinese art. Sketches and comic dialogues have very different manifestations. After the beginning of the sketch, the actor can walk around but the crosstalk is not, but the cross talk can express the joke through the tone of the body and the fixed position of the body language.

Use of stage props

The sketches not only use props, but they also focus on “acting” and props are very important. Through the performance of the show.

The sketch is like a micro-movie. The layout of the scene is crucial, and the costumes and props will change according to the performance.

For example, as the first sketch to be born. In the video “eating noodles”, the props are just a pair of chopsticks, an empty bowl and an empty bucket. The sketch eat noodles is about Chen Xiao Er (Chen Pisi) plays the noodles eaten by the director (Zhu Shimao). Because Chen Xiao Er has always encountered all kinds of troubles (such as lines, etc.), the director had to restart. Due to eight mistakes, Chen Xiao Er repeatedly eats 8 bowls of noodles. In this regard, Chen Xiao Er could not hold on and finally is sent to this hospital.

Props play a crucial role in this show, and Chen Xiao Er makes full use of the props to reflect his performance style.

The more flustered he is, the more detailed he could performance. The more stage props he uses, the realer viewers could feel about it.

This really gives the audience a sense of humor.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiaopin_(literary_genre)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pingshu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiangsheng

https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%AF%84%E4%B9%A6%E9%81%93%E5%85%B7/1614521?

SuoLiweng “LianKuoru - weakwood surprise the universe” 2012,(2)