|
The serial novel “All Men Are Brothers”, developed from historical events, notes, and legends, was included as one of the Six Books Written by Six Talented Literators, in which Lin Chong is the most tragic hero. The intricate plots in the novel have appealed to many playwrights. Lee Kai Shian, a literator in the Ming Dynasty, adapted from the description of Lin Chong in “All Men Are Brothers” and made it a kunqu called “The Story of Treasured Swords.” The kunqu was accomplished before AD.1547 (the 26th year in the Jia Ching period of the Ming Dynasty). At that time, the music of Haiyan(haiyan qiang, 海鹽腔) was very popular with the gentry; therefore, “The Story of Treasured Swords” was very likely written in the music of Haiyan. Furthermore, according to the record of Shen Chong Suei, the 37th episode in “The Story of Treasured Swords” used to be isolated and performed with string musical instruments in the Ming Dynasty. This isolated play was called “Heading for the Liangshanbo.” The 37th episode in “The Story of Treasured Swords” develops the story of Lin Chong resting shortly in an ancient temple on his way to the home base on the Liang Mountain and, after being instructed by God Jia Lan, setting on foot again the heading toward his destination. This play describes Lin Chong as being misunderstood and having no opportunity to explain, so he cannot but relieve all his concerns and regrets while rushing to the Liang Mountain. The diction in this play is elegant and the music is touching. Literators later on adapted it into a single scene play(Zhezixi, 折子戲), which was in turn retained in Kunqu and was called “The Midnight Rush,” in which there was only little difference from the 37th episode in “The Story of Treasured Swords.” In Beiguan theatre, which used to be popular with the general public in Taiwan, there were also the plays of “The Midnight Rush” and “The New Midnight Rush;” however, their stories just partially retained the story of “The Midnight Rush of Lin Chong;” in addition, the diction and the banqian (板腔) musical style were completely different from those of “The Story of Treasured Swords” and “The Midnight Rush” in the Kunqu version, which were both sung in chupai(曲牌) musical style loved by the gentry of that time. From a novel, Chuanqi, Kunqu, to Beiguan Theatre, the story of “The Midnight Rush of Lin Chong” has been presented in various styles and features. No matter it was only adapted a little or greatly modified, it was all for meeting the expectation of the audience.
|