心平.气和
《雷雨》所显示的，并不是因果，并不是报应，而是我所觉得的天地间的“残忍”（这种自然的“冷酷”，四凤与周冲的遭际最足以代表。他们的死亡，自己并无过咎）。这种种宇宙里斗争的“残忍”和“冷酷”。在这斗争的背后或有一个主宰来使用它的管辖。这主宰，希伯莱的先知们称它为“上帝”，希腊的戏剧家们称它为“命运”，近代的人撇弃了这些迷离恍惚的观念，直截了当地叫它为“自然的法则”。而我始终不能给它以适当的命名，也没有能力来形容它的真实相。因为它太大，太复杂。 - 摘自《<雷雨>的写作》，《质文》（《杂文》）1935年第2号。
I watched the Chinese play classic 《雷雨》today and I must say I really like the writing. The dramatic tension was palpable from the solid structure of scene and syntax alone. Even if the plot is considered clichéd and overwrought and hyperbolic by modern thinking, good writing is good writing. The cast did a relatively decent job of getting under the skin of the characters. I find Yeo Yann Yann too young for the role of Fang Yi though. Her ability to communicate the emotional complexities of a woman spurned and scorned by two generations of men was limited and skimming the foamy surface at best (instead of say, literally kicking up a storm).
Watching the play made me realise that as a woman, I have come a long way from having merely two options in life if I were unhappy: either go insane or be very dead (usually via suicide). It’s not a false dilemma either in a feudalistic age. Now if I were miserable, well, at least I can mask my misery and feign happiness at my supposed liberation from stupid men, I guess. While we haven’t moved that far away from the predilection for manly regard (sigh!), at least most of us are better at control and yup, life goes on even when men go away.
The play also throws up another issue that I readily (and really) fail to comprehend all these years: what is so wrong with incest? Apart from claims that gene pools should not mix (and even those are contentious). Is it more a social taboo than anything? Why can’t I date my cousin, or brother? I remember terrorizing a professor in university with this line of questioning. It got nowhere, obviously, and he was saved by the bell.
I watched the Chinese play classic 《雷雨》today and I must say I really like the writing. The dramatic tension was palpable from the solid structure of scene and syntax alone. Even if the plot is considered clichéd and overwrought and hyperbolic by modern thinking, good writing is good writing. The cast did a relatively decent job of getting under the skin of the characters. I find Yeo Yann Yann too young for the role of Fang Yi though. Her ability to communicate the emotional complexities of a woman spurned and scorned by two generations of men was limited and skimming the foamy surface at best (instead of say, literally kicking up a storm).
Watching the play made me realise that as a woman, I have come a long way from having merely two options in life if I were unhappy: either go insane or be very dead (usually via suicide). It’s not a false dilemma either in a feudalistic age. Now if I were miserable, well, at least I can mask my misery and feign happiness at my supposed liberation from stupid men, I guess. While we haven’t moved that far away from the predilection for manly regard (sigh!), at least most of us are better at control and yup, life goes on even when men go away.
The play also throws up another issue that I readily (and really) fail to comprehend all these years: what is so wrong with incest? Apart from claims that gene pools should not mix (and even those are contentious). Is it more a social taboo than anything? Why can’t I date my cousin, or brother? I remember terrorizing a professor in university with this line of questioning. It got nowhere, obviously, and he was saved by the bell.
Read here, here and here for more 《雷雨》 related articles, and here for something English
Incidentally, apparently Zhang Yimou’s latest movie《满城尽带黄金甲》starring Zhou Ren Fa, Gong Li and Jay Chou is loosely based on the play too.
And I’m the only sad creature left in my social circles yet to watch 夜宴 - looks like this is one movie I gotta catch alone against my will.
Incidentally, apparently Zhang Yimou’s latest movie《满城尽带黄金甲》starring Zhou Ren Fa, Gong Li and Jay Chou is loosely based on the play too.
And I’m the only sad creature left in my social circles yet to watch 夜宴 - looks like this is one movie I gotta catch alone against my will.
5 Comments:
I thought Yeo Yann Yann played the role of the embittered Fang Yi with just the right touch of histrionics. She could have been a tad more bitchy though :)
I have never read the play (apart from the faintest memory of a two page extract secondary school believed was useful to give students, which it wasn't, because it was only two pages) so watching this is a first contact. But.
i thought that within the overall context, the said lost youth and hopefulness post embitterness after Ping made her genuinely believe in love again (subsequent disappointments and otherwise aside): glimmers of that should have manifested in Yann Yann's tone and gestures at certain points of the play. since for most part, she never did truly gave up on Ping, or stop believing he still carries the torch for her.
But Yann Yan's rendition (not that i have seen anyone else's)just stops at being bitter, obsessive and desperate. if she could inject a tad of naivety, and indications of a woman in love, as opposed to a woman clinging on to a lifeline from start to end, that will add on to the complexities of Fang Yi and make greater my enjoyment of the play. 'cos i see fang yi as a woman thwarted by men and circumstances - there's emotional turbulence here and she shld not be one-dimensionally bitter, obsessive or desperate.
i like yann yann's voice though, as always. but i do wonder if her voice limits the characters she plays or even, *gasp* her acting
Hi Angeline
I agree mostly with your take on the Fang Yi character, or should I say what you had hope to see. It would take a very skillful actor to play that complex character without over-acting the part.
I'm not sure if the shortcomings of Y3's portrayal as you described was due more to her ineptness or the director's hand.
Which local theatre actress do you think might have done a better portrayal ofFang Yi?
Hi Anonymous,
Are you the same or a different Anonymous?
You got me there. i was thinking about it even as i was watching the play. frankly, no one comes to mind.
Mostly because the chinese theatre scene has so much unfulfilled potential ie the cast and crew are struggling with the budget and worrying about $ always takes time away from the important things. Plus, the pool of actors and actresses is so small. The last Chinese play i watched was the one by dramabox which also starred Y3.
Y3's best feature is also her most limiting to me. I love her voice but its low husky timbre makes her less convincing as a sweet young thing, even though she's not old at all. as opposed to someone like emma yong. Sometimes all the nurturing can't fight nature.
You may be interested in this entry posted earlier in the year
http://thedepthsofshallowness.blogspot.com/2006/03/why-not.html
Hi again for the 3rd time.. same Anon here :)
As noted by Kuo Jian Hong in the programme booklet of Lei Yu, the decline in the std of Mandarin and gradual extinction of Chinese-educated actors have hindered the growth of local Chinese theatre. Y3 herself was educated in the Chinese stream in JB. I suppose she's the best bet out of a very, very limited pool of local actors available for the Fan Yi role. But that's not taking away anything from Y3... imo she's an actress of gravitas and I wonder why she's not as well known as she should be, having done theatre, tv and movies...hmmm.
Interestingly, I read the role of Fan Yi in an earlier 1998 theatrical production was played by Sharon Au *gasp*
If there's a movie version of Lei Yu, I'll pick the scintillating Gong Li!
Out of curiosity, the Dramabox play you mentioned was A Stranger At Home, wasn't it? Was it good or bad?
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