Chapter 181 The Birth of a Star
The performance of "Farewell My Concubine" is in progress at the Capital Theatre.
Chen Xiaoer came down from the stage sweating and took off his headgear. He played the role of Yuan Siye in the play, a beast in human form who loves opera, and his appearance was designed to be a gentleman.
His part for the night was over, otherwise he wouldn't have dared to come down and take off his hood.
"Oh, it's really fun to act, but wearing the headgear is too painful."
Li Wanfen on the side joked: "Who made you bald at such a young age? It's convenient for the group to style it."
Chen Xiaoer put the headgear on the dressing table and said, "You don't understand. My hairstyle has many advantages!"
"Oh? Tell me about it?"
"First of all, my hairstyle doesn't get hot in summer."
“But you’re cold in the winter!”
"Won't you be cold in winter? Can't you just wear a hat?"
"That's right, what are the advantages?"
"My hair is easy to maintain. It can be done with just one razor blade. I can save money on haircuts."
"That's right. It's a waste of time to let the master cut your hair."
…
The two of them performed like a crosstalk, one praising and the other making fun, making the actors who were resting and waiting backstage laugh out loud.
"Oh, no, no. Please stop talking, or my makeup will be ruined."
The plot on the stage was full of ups and downs, but the backstage was full of joy and peace.
As there are fewer and fewer actors in the backstage and more and more actors are taking a break, the play is about to come to an end.
After some veteran actors get used to it, they even stand on the sidelines to observe their colleagues’ performances, which is also a form of learning.
Chen Xiaoer chatted for a while and then came over.
It happened that the scene of Yu Ji committing suicide was being performed on the stage. Seeing Yang Lixin's delicate and weak body slowly falling down, he couldn't help but sigh: "Lixin's acting is really good!"
Several veteran actors nearby also nodded in agreement, "Xiao Yang has really come into his own, each performance is getting better and better!"
“You’re going to be famous!”
The old actors sighed, and Chen Xiaoer felt uncomfortable hearing these words. It was true that Yang Lixin acted well, but he felt that it was the role that made the person. The role of Cheng Dieyi was a typical guarantor of the role, and as long as the acting skills were up to standard, it would not be bad.
Chen Xiaoer was confident that if he was given the role, he would definitely not perform worse than Yang Lixin.
Of course, he was just thinking these words in his mind, and he also knew that his image was a bit poor.
Being an actor is sometimes all about your face.
He was dissatisfied and envious of Yang Lixin, but never jealous. This was his pride and confidence in his profession.
He firmly believed that as long as he was given a suitable role, he would become like Yang Lixin.
Become famous with one play.
Yang Lixin was born in 1957 and just celebrated his 25th birthday.
He was born and raised in Yanjing and had loved watching operas since he was a child. His home was next to the North China Theater, where Jibei Bangzi was performed all year round. He was influenced by Jibei Bangzi, Pingxi, and Peking Opera.
In 1975, all cultural units in Yenching were recruiting students. Yang Lixin was a freshman in No. 147 Middle School at the time and accompanied his classmates to take the exam for the Yenching Opera Troupe.
Because of his good stage presence, he was recommended by a teacher at the Chinese Opera House to apply for the People's Art Theatre. He was successfully admitted to the People's Art Theatre's student class and became a drama actor.
In his second year at the People's Art Theatre, Yang Lixin starred in the first drama of his life, playing the role of the "enemy adjutant" in "A Thousand Rivers and Mountains". His co-star was Zhu Xu, the middle-aged pillar of the People's Art Theatre at that time.
In the following years, Yang Lixin performed in many dramas of the People's Art Theatre, and his acting skills were honed bit by bit.
Playing the role of Cheng Dieyi is a great opportunity for Yang Lixin.
He is an actor of the People's Art Theatre, so he naturally knows how much importance the theatre attaches to this play. It took several months just to discuss the script in the early stages.
From preparation, rehearsal to performance, it took a full year.
This year was also a transformation for Yang Lixin, from the ecstasy when he was chosen to play Cheng Dieyi, to the trepidation after receiving the script, to the life-or-death struggle when he went to the Peking Opera Theater for training...
I took every step with trepidation, fearing that I would be eliminated because of poor performance.
The National Theatre of China lacks everything except good actors.
Now, Yang Lixin has finally tasted the sweetness of success after suffering so much hardship.
He stood in the center of the empty stage, unable to help but open his arms, closing his eyes as he felt the thunderous applause that had existed in this theater not long ago.
"Li Xin, why don't you leave?"
The arrogant emotion was interrupted before it could be released. Yang Lixin put down his arms and turned around, with a somewhat embarrassed expression.
He had originally thought that after the show was over and his colleagues backstage had left, he could go on stage to freely feel and reminisce the feeling of being the center of attention, but he didn't expect to be discovered.
The one who called him was the old actor who played Master Guan in the play. He gave Yang Lixin a kind smile and said jokingly: "Why don't you try it again? There's no one here anyway."
Yang Lixin's face was a little hot. "No need. It's too late. I have to go home early. You should also go home and rest early."
As he spoke, he walked back to the backstage, packed up briefly and left the Capital Theatre.
The home venue of the National Theatre of China is the Capital Theatre. There is a tradition here that after the drama ends every night, the actors will leave from the gate of the Capital Theatre on their bicycles.
At this time, there will be many drama fans waiting here. In later times, these are called fans.
The fans would wait at the gate of the Capital Theatre, and when they saw actors coming out on bicycles, they would shout their names loudly, or the names of their characters, and the actors would happily respond.
The play "Farewell My Concubine" is very long, lasting three hours, and each time the actors came out it was after 11 o'clock in the evening.
But in recent days, the number of fans at the entrance of the Capital Theatre has not decreased, but increased.
Most of them have only one goal, which is to get close to "Cheng Dieyi".
Yang Lixin was well prepared. He rode out of the yard on his bicycle. He held the handlebars with one hand and waved to the fans standing at the door with the other hand, with a smile on his face.
This feels so good!
Yang Lixin felt that he was becoming more and more like a great actor. He was secretly happy about it when he heard an earth-shaking shout from the crowd.
"Die Yi!" [broken voice]
Before Yang Lixin could react, he saw a long black object coming towards him.
With a "Duang" sound, the bicycle stopped there. Yang Lixin saw stars and felt a sharp pain in his forehead.
The fans who were excited just now were startled. They didn't know what was happening in the dark and immediately rushed forward.
"Teacher Yang, what's wrong with you?"
"Cheng Dieyi, are you okay?"
After the initial dizziness and pain, Yang Lixin finally recovered. He took his hands off his head and found that he was bleeding.
The fans who had gathered around him had already found the object that had just flown over for him. Using the light of a flashlight, they saw that it was a sword.
When I pulled it out, I saw that it had been sharpened.
Yang Lixin felt lucky in his heart, thanks to the scabbard, which was covered with a layer of leather, otherwise he might have lost his life.
Who the hell is this!
Yang Lixin cursed in his heart.
"Who the hell is this?"
There is no need for Yang Lixin to speak up, as there are already some hot-tempered fans who have spoken up for him.
"What a bastard! How can you throw things like that?"
"That's right, Teacher Yang's head was smashed."
"It almost cost me my life. Let's go to the hospital right away."
Fans all urged to send Yang Lixin to the hospital for a check-up.
Yang Lixin felt very nervous. He touched the wound on his forehead and hoped it wouldn't be too serious because he still had a performance tomorrow.
Escorted by enthusiastic fans, he came to the hospital. After a check-up, he was found to have a broken head but no bones. Yang Lixin felt lucky.
The doctor wanted to stitch Yang Lixin's wound, but Yang Lixin refused.
He has to shave his hair to get stitches, and he has a performance tomorrow, so there can't be any problems with his appearance.
"Doctor, can I not have stitches?"
The doctor hesitated for a moment, "Your wound is not that big, so it is not impossible not to have stitches. But the wound will heal more slowly, and scars are inevitable."
Yang Lixin thought that it didn't matter how fast or slow the recovery was, because wounds would always leave scars, it was just a matter of size. As long as it wasn't on the face and didn't affect his acting, it was fine.
After rejecting the suggestion of stitches, Yang Lixin came out of the clinic and was surrounded by fans.
"Teacher Yang, are you okay?"
"Teacher Yang, your injury won't affect your performance tomorrow, right?"
…
It was already past one in the middle of the night, and Yang Lixin felt warm in his heart being surrounded by these enthusiastic fans.
"Thank you, everyone. My injury is not serious and will heal in a few days. It's getting late. You all should go home first."
"We are fine, but you are injured. We will send you home first, Teacher Yang, to prevent anyone from harming you again."
one fan said, winning everyone's unanimous approval.
Yang Lixin couldn't persuade these fans and had to agree to their escort.
Along the way, Yang Lixin chatted with everyone.
These fans are mostly young people, and their families are well-off, otherwise they wouldn't have the time to watch dramas and follow the actors of the National Theatre of China.
When they arrived, Yang Lixin stood at the entrance of the alley and waved goodbye to his fans.
The group of fans eventually dispersed, except for a young-looking man riding a bicycle who was still standing there, looking full of guilt.
Zhang Jianjun's heart was filled with apology and guilt.
He was the one who threw the sword that hit Yang Lixin. He really had no intention of harming Dieyi.
The sword he threw out was an ancient sword collected by his father, and it was very old.
Zhang Jianjun felt that Yang Lixin’s performance as Cheng Dieyi was good, and Cheng Dieyi’s performance as Yu Ji was also good, but the sword he used on stage was not good enough, so he stole the sword from his home and wanted to give it to Cheng Dieyi.
I didn't expect that I was too excited in the dark and accidentally threw it with a little more force.
"Alas! This is really counterproductive."
Fortunately, the sword was finally taken away by Yang Lixin.
Zhang Jianjun thought that the beating was not in vain.
The next day, Yang Lixin appeared at the People's Art Theatre with a bandage on his head.
Ouyang Shanzun was shocked, "What's going on?"
Yang Lixin explained what happened yesterday, and Ouyang Shanzun asked worriedly, "Can you still go on stage tonight?"
Yang Lixin gritted his teeth and said, "Yes!"
"Don't force it. If it doesn't work, let Group B go."
Yang Lixin shook his head and said stubbornly: "Director, I'm really fine. The show is more important than anything else!"
Ou Yanshanzun smiled and said, "Okay. This is a big deal. I think I'll be a star!"
Yang Lixin smiled brightly with gauze on his head.
(End of this chapter)
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