lcionline Chapter 121 The initial stage of the play adaptation encounters old obstacles
Chapter 121 The initial stage of the play adaptation encounters old obstacles
The initial stage of the drama adaptation encountered old obstacles.
The joyful atmosphere at "Zuiyunfang" had not yet dissipated when Su Yunlan led Xiao Yuhan on the road to the opera troupe.
The Xiao family was once glorious, but now it is gradually declining, and the operation of the opera troupe is getting worse and worse.
Su Yunlan already had a plan in mind; she wanted to completely change the current situation of the opera troupe and restore it to its former glory.
The carriage wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a regular "thump-thump" sound, much like Su Yunlan's firm and powerful heartbeat at this moment.
She lifted a corner of the curtain, looking at the bustling crowd outside, her thoughts racing.
Xiao Yuhan sat beside her, his broad palm gently covering hers, offering her silent support.
The opera troupe was located in a quiet alley in the south of the city. The storefront was small and even somewhat dilapidated.
Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a musty smell hit me.
The courtyard was empty except for a few ragged actors lazily practicing their skills.
Su Yunlan frowned slightly; this was far from what she had imagined.
"Is Master Li here?" Su Yunlan's clear and strong voice echoed in the empty courtyard.
A short, stout old man with a goatee walked out from backstage. He squinted at Su Yunlan and Xiao Yuhan, a hint of wariness in his eyes. "I am Master Li. May I ask what brings you two here?"
"I am the fourth young mistress of the Xiao family. I have come today to check on the opera troupe's situation." Su Yunlan got straight to the point, her tone neither humble nor arrogant.
Upon hearing that she was from the Xiao family, Master Li immediately became more respectful, but his words still carried a hint of resistance. "So you are the Fourth Young Mistress. We can handle the affairs of the opera troupe ourselves, so there's no need for you to worry about it."
Su Yunlan ignored his excuses and walked straight into the stage.
The stage scenery was already dilapidated and the props were scattered all over the ground.
She reached out and touched the cold wooden board, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
“Master Li, you should know the current state of the opera troupe better than I do.” Su Yunlan turned around, staring sharply at Master Li. “By sticking to the old ways, the opera troupe will only be heading towards its demise.”
Upon hearing this, Master Li immediately flew into a rage. "Fourth Young Madam, what do you mean by that? Our troupe has been doing this for decades; the rules of our ancestors cannot be broken!"
“Rules are rigid, but people are flexible,” Su Yunlan said firmly. “Times are changing, and opera troupes must change with them. If we don’t reform, we’ll just have to wait to be eliminated.”
Master Li, his neck stiff and his face full of defiance, said, "The affairs of the opera troupe are decided by this old man! Fourth Young Madam, please leave!"
Su Yunlan wasn't angry; instead, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. "Master Li, don't be so quick to refuse. Perhaps you could listen to my thoughts first..."
Faced with Master Li's stubbornness, Su Yunlan did not confront him head-on.
She smiled slightly, like a spring breeze caressing the willows, softening the tense atmosphere.
“Master Li, I don’t intend to overthrow all traditions immediately, but rather to learn first. After all, how can we talk about change if we don’t understand?”
These words surprised everyone present, even Xiao Yuhan, who had a tense expression, was slightly taken aback.
Master Li was clearly surprised by Su Yunlan's response. His furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and his tone softened a bit. "Fourth Young Madam, do you really want to learn?"
“Of course.” Su Yunlan’s gaze swept over the slightly tired actors in the courtyard. “I not only want to learn, but also to understand every detail of the opera troupe, from singing style to movements, from script to props, nothing can be overlooked.”
Seeing that Su Yunlan was not an unreasonable person, Master Li's wariness lessened considerably.
He led Su Yunlan and her group and began to introduce the daily life of the opera troupe.
The actors practicing in the courtyard gradually gathered around, curiously observing the newly arrived fourth young mistress.
Although they were dressed in rags, their eyes still revealed their love for opera.
Su Yunlan listened attentively to Master Li's introduction, asking questions from time to time. She inquired in great detail about everything from the actors' costumes and practice movements to the plays they performed.
In the afternoon, she asked to visit the opera troupe's warehouse.
The warehouse door creaked open, and a musty, musty smell wafted out, revealing a mountain of old costumes and props.
Inside the dusty wooden crate were piles of faded old theatrical costumes and rusty knives, spears, and clubs.
Su Yunlan reached out and brushed her hand over a theatrical costume embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns, feeling the rough texture on her fingertips.
The material and craftsmanship of this costume were worlds apart from the exquisite costumes she had collected in her space.
A thought struck Su Yunlan, and a plan quietly emerged.
Without making a sound, she stored several worn-out costumes and props from the warehouse into her spatial storage, and then took out several exquisitely crafted, brightly colored costumes and props of the same kind to replace them.
These items are antiques she collected from the modern era; their materials and craftsmanship are top-notch, enough to impress the opera troupe.
She cleared her throat and said casually, "These costumes and props are a bit old. I see there are some other styles in the storeroom. Why don't we take them out and try them out?"
As she spoke, she gestured for Xiao Yuhan to open a wooden box next to her.
The moment the box was opened, a dazzling light shone into everyone's eyes.
The costumes inside were brightly colored, made of exquisite materials, and the embroidery was so lifelike that they seemed to be glowing.
The crowd gasped in surprise and gathered around.
"This, this is..." Master Li's eyes widened, his fingers trembling as he stroked the silk threads on the costume, his eyes filled with shock.
"This...how is this possible!" Zhao Mingjiao'er's usually arrogant face showed an expression of disbelief. He picked up a beautifully carved longsword and examined it carefully, his face filled with shock and admiration.
Looking at the astonished expressions on everyone's faces, Su Yunlan smiled slightly and said casually, "These things might bring new life to our opera troupe."
She didn't continue explaining, but turned and walked towards the stage. Her movements were light and graceful, and her long skirt drew a beautiful arc on the ground, leaving only Master Li, Zhao Mingjiao, and a group of actors looking at each other in bewilderment. They all seemed unable to understand where these dreamlike costumes and props came from.
Meanwhile, screenwriter Qian was frowning, staring blankly at the script in his hand, looking utterly bewildered…
Screenwriter Qian sat at the table with a blank sheet of Xuan paper in front of him, his brows furrowed, and his pen hesitated to fall.
Su Yunlan's idea for a new play seemed like a pipe dream to him.
How can such unconventional plots, like those of talented scholars and beautiful women traveling through time and those of commoners rising to become kings, be considered respectable?
He shook his head and sighed, convinced that only traditional operas were the right path, and that only stories of emperors, generals, loyal ministers, and filial sons could be captivating and thought-provoking.
"Mr. Qian, have you had a new inspiration?" Su Yunlan's voice rang in his ears, interrupting his thoughts.
The screenwriter, Qian, looked up, his expression somewhat displeased. "Fourth Young Madam, forgive my bluntness, but your ideas are really not in accordance with the rules."
Su Yunlan wasn't annoyed, but simply smiled slightly, "Mr. Qian, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Opera must also keep up with the times in order to attract more audiences."
"Hmph, audiences love classics, not those sensationalist trinkets!" Screenwriter Qian said firmly, refusing to back down.
Su Yunlan stopped arguing with him and simply turned around and went back to her room.
She slipped into the space and began searching among the dazzling array of bookshelves.
Soon, she found several antique opera scripts.
These manuscripts are all rare copies that have long been lost in modern times, and many of them are masterpieces with novel plots and ingenious ideas.
She took the scripts back to the opera troupe and handed them to playwright Qian, saying, "Mr. Qian, you might want to take a look at these; they might give you some inspiration."
The screenwriter, Qian, took the script with some skepticism, casually flipped through a few pages, but his expression gradually changed.
He became more and more engrossed in looking at it, as if he had discovered a new continent, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out.
Although the stories in these books are based on traditional opera, they incorporate many fresh elements, retaining the charm of opera while being full of the spirit of the times.
"This...this is..." Screenwriter Qian was so excited that he was almost incoherent. "These scripts are something I have never seen before. They are truly wonderful! Wonderful!"
Su Yunlan felt gratified to see his change in attitude.
She knew that the first step in the reform of the opera troupe had finally been taken.
However, just when Su Yunlan thought things were making progress, a piece of news was like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing her hopes.
Zhao Mingjiao, a famous local opera star, declined the invitation to join the opera troupe.
"Fourth Young Mistress, Zhao Mingjiao said... said..." Young Master Xiao Fifteen ran in breathlessly and stammered.
"What did you say?" Su Yunlan's heart sank, sensing that something was wrong.
"He said... he won't come unless you personally invite him!"