The Metamorphosis of Tianxian Pei: Local Opera under the Revolution (1949-1956)

摘要

This compelling and multifaceted book introduces audiences to Married to a Heavenly Immortal (Tianxian pei), a local opera that is as universally known in China as it is unknown in the West. Wilt Idema uses the reform of the traditional version of the opera as an example of the complex transformation of dramatic works during the early years of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Unlike the well-documented creation of The White-Haired Girl and other "revolutionary classics," the reform of traditional operas into Party-friendly shows has largely escaped systematic analysis. Idema's text offers much to scholars interested in traditional opera and its reform under the Chinese Communist Party. While Idema sees his book as divided into two discrete parts, I believe it is best conceptualized in three sections. In the first, Idema provides an in-depth analysis of the reform of Married to a Heavenly Immortal, tracing the show's evolution from an obscure local opera to a truly national phenomenon. The second part of the text consists of translations of the original and revised versions of the opera. Translations of essays and letters concerning the revised operas, mostly contemporary to the revision, provide the final third of the book. Idema's translations of the original and revised operas represent an excellent source for literary scholars and are a valuable resource in their own right. Highly readable but still maintaining the essence of the original texts, these translations benefit from a wealth of contextual explanation in Idema's footnotes. These explanations are especially important for the original version of the opera, which is filled with obscure allusions to classical tales. The translated essays and letters concerning the opera's revision are a diverse set filled with unexpected finds; the passionate defence of traditional opera penned by Kang Sheng, now infamous for his role in the Cultural Revolution, is particularly enlightening.