Two thick, cold black stone walls stand at the sides of the
stage; warriors dressed in heavy metal armor run on and stand along
the walls holding big sticks; a few warriors show up at the top of
the walls, laughing and throwing down severed heads.
Starting with such a sensational and violent slaughter scene,
director Lin Zhaohua's latest theater production, The Assassin,
first appears as if it is a serious historical piece that admires a
heroic assassin.
The poster of The Assassin features the duo
Pu Cunxin and He Bing.
?
Things turn the other way, however, as the assassin, Yu Rang, fails
to murder the king Zhao Xiangzi after numerous attempts and in the
end, the audience bursts into laughter at Yu's blunders. Knowing he
is not capable of killing Zhao, Yu Rang begs to stab Zhao's gown
instead. But he is not even able to raise his short dagger and so
Zhao offers him his gown in pity.
To most Chinese, Yu Rang is not as famous as other assassins
such as Jin Ke, who tried to kill Emperor Qin Shihuang. But Yu
Rang's final words are very well known: "A gentleman is ready to
die a loyal death for those who know the worth of him; a woman is
eager to live a happy life with one who touches the chord in
her".
Touched by the famous saying, the playwright Xu Ying created the
story a few years ago based on the account of Yu Rang in Shi Ji,
the historical records compiled by Sima Qian (145 - 90 BC).
In 453 BC, Zhi Bo, a minister in the state of Jin, ordered the
invasion of the enemy state of Zhao as part of his ambitious plan
to become the ruler of Jin. He miscalculated and ended up being
killed by Zhao.
The Assassin features a sensational opening
sequence.
Yu Rang, a close follower of Zhi Bo, vowed to avenge his master
who had treated him kindly. Disguised as a prisoner, Yu Rang bided
his time to assassinate Zhao. When the occasion finally presented
itself, Yu Rang was foiled and taken prisoner.
Impressed and intrigued by Yu Rang's extreme loyalty to his
former master, Zhao let the assassin go. He even went to great
trouble to stay out of Yu Rang's way. Yu Rang, however, carried on
his mission. He camouflaged his identity by disfiguring his own
face and scalded his throat to change his voice. His chance came,
but he failed again. Before dying, the assassin bequeathed the
world with his famous saying.?
Pu Cunxin (right) plays the king Zhao
Xiangzi.
?
In playwright Xu Ying's mind, "assassination" is an extreme
violence but it reflects the ancient Chinese people's moral code of
justice and righteousness.
"Most of the Chinese assassins lived in the turbulent ancient
times, with warlords carving up the country and vying for the
throne. They would support their lords or do what they believe is
justice regardless of their own safety. Their courage is worth of
admiration," says Xu.
"I don't want to sing praise of Yu Rang's extreme loyalty, but I
have to acknowledge that he touched my heart. I want to express it
through the play and hope it makes the audience forget the bustling
world outside the theater."
However, as always, director Lin has his own unique
understanding of the historical story. Clearly, his interpretation
has nothing to do with admiration for the assassin. In his
direction, he exaggerates Yu Rang's blind loyalty and satirizes his
ridiculous actions.
Lin's view on blind loyalty in China's feudal times is
interpreted into his play Orphan of the Zhao's Family (2003).
Before that, Lin had read Xu's play, which was written originally
as a Peking Opera.
"Sima Qian compiled Shi Ji based on his understanding of
history. But we don't have to follow his interpretation. I put my
own thinking into the drama and it promotes discussion: What is a
real hero? Is it worth torturing and even killing himself to avenge
for such a master as Zhi Bo? Is Zhao really a tolerant and wise
king who let Yu Rang go again and again? The audience can make
their own judgments," says the 71-year-old director.
He Bing as assassin Yu Rang in the
play.??
No matter what message the playwright and the director try to
give, audiences can enjoy an amazing abstract setting and gorgeous
costumes and listen to Oscar-winning composer Tan Dun's music. Lin
also tried new theatrical approaches such as using Peking Opera
routines and physical movements choreographed by a modern
dancer.
Most Beijing's theater-goers would not expect Pu Cunxin, who
normally plays the hero, to accept such a villainous role as Zhao.
Meanwhile, He Bing enjoys himself to the full playing the
"ridiculous" assassin Yu Rang.
The role challenges He both physically and mentally. He jumps,
crawls, rolls, fights and throws himself around the stage. He also
cries hysterically in the scene where he disfigures his own face
and scalds his throat.
The actor who starred in director Lin's Orphan of the Zhao's
Family in 2003 says that Lin's direction has benefited him greatly.
"I found that I had finally understood what Lin wants from an
actor. I want to work more with the open-minded director and learn
more from him," says He.
In He's eyes, Yu Rang is a tragic figure.
"He is great as well as ignorant. In that special time, his
extreme loyalty put him into a blind alley. He did what normal
people would not do but it's hard to say if he is right or wrong.
Personally, I don't like the character," says He.
The Assassin is running at the Capital Theater till August 19
and will tour Shanghai for four performances on August 23 to 26 and
then move to Shenzhen and Chongqing next month.
(China Daily August 11, 2007)
