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"Young Confucius", a large-scale epic stage drama directed by Shi Xuehai, will return to the stage at the China Puppet Art Theatre in Beijing as soon as next month.
In an interview with CRI, the play's director reveals that "Young Confucius" will contain some new elements based on advice collected from young audience members, as well as their teachers and parents.
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The play "Young Confucius" was staged at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing in 2012. [File Photo / english.cntv.cn] |
CRI's XYee has more.
Young Confucius, a large epic stage play which is the product of three years of careful and dedicated efforts of the China Puppet Art Theatre, is telling the story of a 12-year-old Confucius who learns, works, plays and grows with other children for the first time.
Director Shi Xuehai explains that having fun and playing is part of the nature of children, and this will be displayed through young Confucius learning the "six arts" in the stage drama.
"It's a general belief that the drama should focus on how young Confucius concentrated on his studies, but our drama vividly depicts his process of learning the "six arts", including archery, driving carts and playing music, without boring scenes of how he behaved as a student in classroom."
Since its debut on March 24, 2012, the drama has been been performed nearly one hundred times across China to audiences of more than 150,000.
The young audiences, together with their parents and teachers, have also given a host of feedback for further changes to the drama, which director Shi explains as leading to the new look of "Young Confucius" in 2014.
"Primary school students and kindergarten children told us they expect there to be more scenes describing the daily life of young Confucius. Hence we've added lots of scenes that depict the love between Confucius and his mom to the 2014 version. For example, one scene we've added is about young Confucius showing filial piety towards his mom: as his mom fell ill, he took his younger brother to climb the Mengshan Mountain to pick herbs".
Confucius' mother, Yan Zheng, was like rich soil on Confucius' path of growth, nourishing, nurturing and influencing him, to allow him to slowly breed his potential power for the spirit of righteousness, morality and tolerance."
Some young audience members, who became deeply touched by the stories of young Confucius, also expressed their desire to act in the play. The China Puppet Art Theatre offered an opportunity to do so by setting up a children's art troupe.
The troupe members are coached in preparation for the epic play to be staged in February and March, 2014. They also represent new elements of "Young Confucius".
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Hui Qianqian, the lead teacher to a children's art troupe named after Confucius, speaks at the troupe's launch ceremony on Monday, December 30, 2013 in Beijing's China Puppet Art Theatre. [Photo / CRIENGLISH.com] |
Hui Qianqian is the lead teacher to the troupe.
"We teach the troupe members the drama segment by segment. By doing so, we aim to promote traditional Chinese cultural values."
For these audience members-turned young artists, Hui Qianqian believes the 2014 edition means far more than an improved understanding of traditional culture in China.
"We also hope to provide a platform for children to practice their skills and display their talents on such a big stage, encouraging them to take the initiative to realize their artistic ambitions."
In the drama, the rival comes in the form of Niu Hong. The son of a well-off family who is constantly competing with Confucius and trying to put him down.
But the ending is not a head-to-head clash with one winner. Niu Hong is moved and transformed by the qualities of Confucius.
The true victory is reconciliation, and this is what director Shi expects young audiences to learn after watching the drama.
"They should be encouraged from childhood. Young audiences may be inspired by young Confucius and follow suit in details as they study, play as well as help with household chores. This way, his values such as charity, filial piety, tolerance and forgiveness will be gradually cultivated in children."
In addition, the use of colorful dances, complemented by high-tech stage effects, gives the play a full, poetic atmosphere.
