Rickshaw Boy finally returns

A work based on a classic novel was produced and staged by the Peking Opera Theatre of Jiangsu Performing Arts Group in 1998, and it immediately became a phenomenon.

Adapted from Rickshaw Boy, the classic novel by Lao She (1899-1966), the Peking Opera production with the same title toured nationwide and swept almost all the top theater prizes, such as the Wenhua Award, the Golden Award of China Peking Art Festival and the Outstanding Theatrical Production Award of China Art Festival.

However, the award-winning production was not performed for years as the company had other works to promote. That changed last year when a decision was made to revive it, and Rickshaw Boy was staged at the Mei Lanfang Theatre in Beijing on June 14.

"For some historical reasons, Rickshaw Boy was considered lost," said Luo Lang, president of Peking Opera Theatre of Jiangsu Performing Arts Group, at the Mei Lanfang Theatre in Beijing early this month. "However, what it has achieved inspired us to bring it to the audience again. It's a landmark for contemporary Peking Opera productions."

First published in 1937, Rickshaw Boy was considered as one of Lao She's most important and popular novels.

Set against the wartime backdrop of the 1930s, the tragic story follows Xiangzi, a poor young man from the countryside who comes to Beijing to become a rickshaw puller. His dream is to have his own rickshaw.

However, the rickshaw, which he bought with the money he saved up over three years, is stolen by mutinous soldiers, so Xiangzi has to work for his boss — a rickshaw company owner. Xiangzi was forced to marry Huniu, the daughter of the boss, who later died of difficult labor when delivering their baby.

Xiangzi has to sell his newly-bought rickshaw to arrange Huniu's funeral.

Luo says that in the 1998 version of the Peking Opera production, Chen Canglin played the role of Xiangzi and Huang Xiaoci (1943-2017) played the role of Huniu.

This new version has seen Chen as the director, and his student Huang Jinzhao plays the role of Xiangzi. Huang Xiaoci's student and young Peking Opera actress Gao Fei plays the role of Huniu.

"The production has been staged around the country for more than 30 shows since it was restaged last summer. The two new leading actors learned with the actor and actress from the original version, which guaranteed the authenticity and loyalty to the original version," says Luo.

"The first city we toured with Rickshaw Boy in 1998 was Beijing when we came to the capital to attend the China Peking Opera Art Festival. The feedback was warm and encouraging, which was a great achievement for us. It's not easy for a Peking Opera troupe from southern China to put on a Peking Opera work telling a Beijing story," says Chen, 73. "I can still remember that back in 1998, I spent a very long time learning to pull the rickshaw. It's more than just a vehicle but the whole life and spiritual support of the role, Xiangzi."

He notes that the rickshaw used in the new version was the original vehicle that the staff members of the props department made back in 1998.

Rickshaw Boy opened the ongoing performances launched by the China National Peking Opera Company, bringing classic and contemporary Peking Opera productions by Peking Opera companies from around the country.

Besides the Peking Opera Theatre of Jiangsu Performing Arts Group and its Rickshaw Boy, other highlights will include The Jewelry Purse, a classic piece by the Jingju Theatre Company of Beijing, and Cao Cao and Yang Xiu by Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company.

Peking Opera, or jingju, has a history of more than 200 years and was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010.

It brings together art forms such as singing, dancing, martial arts and acrobatics. The stories told in classic Peking Opera works are mainly based on Chinese folk tales and classic literature works, displaying traditional Chinese virtues, like loyalty, bravery and honesty. Contemporary Peking Opera works capture the essence of the ancient art form, as well as appealing to the young audiences.

"All the Peking Opera companies we invited to join in this performing program will bring their most classic and best-selling productions. Audiences will enjoy different performing styles and performances by top Peking Opera stars from around the country," says Wang Yong, president of the China National Peking Opera Company, adding that all the performances will be staged at the Mei Lanfang Theatre in the capital.

Wang mentions the event happened in 1790, which is considered vital to the birth of Peking Opera. Four Hui Opera troupes visited Beijing as part of celebrations for the 80th birthday of Emperor Qianlong (1711-99). Hui Opera, or huiju, is a form of traditional Chinese opera from Anhui province. In about 1840, Peking Opera began to formally take shape, growing rapidly during the reign of Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908), a Chinese opera lover.

After this, the art form was developed with troupes being formed in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai.

"Peking Opera was born under the influence of other traditional Chinese opera forms, such as Hui Opera. When the Hui Opera artists came to perform in Beijing, they not only performed but also communicated with local artists of Chinese traditional operas. Communication is important, which allows us to learn and get inspired," says Wang, mentioning that the China National Peking Opera Company has produced some popular productions by adapting from other forms of traditional Chinese operas, such as Yueju Opera, which originated in East China's Zhejiang province, Huju Opera from Shanghai and Yangju Opera from Yangzhou, Jiangsu province.

According to Wang, the company has adapted Western classic works into Peking Opera productions, which received warm feedback from audiences both from home and abroad.

This year, the company will work with Russian theater companies to adapt Pushkin's masterpiece Eugene Onegin into a Peking Opera production.

The China National Peking Opera Company will, this summer, also tour with its Peking Opera productions, such as The Warrior Women of Yang and Prosperity Brought by the Dragon and the Phoenix, to Chinese provinces, including Hunan, Liaoning and Zhejiang.

"Those events will not only be enjoyed by audiences, but also benefit young Peking Opera performers, who will gain more experience onstage and learn with Peking Opera masters from around the country," says Yuan Huiqin, artistic director of the China National Peking Opera Company, who is a well-known actress playing lao dan, or older female roles.