The literary era since 1979

Chapter 310: Two Generations of Sketch Kings
"Crosstalk drama?"

Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao looked at each other. Zhu Shimao was confused, and Chen Peisi was even more confused.

Fang Yan glanced around and finally landed his gaze on Jiang Kun. "Teacher Jiang Kun must know, right?"

"Teacher Ma once told me about this."

Although Jiang Kun started learning crosstalk late in life and his basic skills are only mediocre, his knowledge is definitely not low.

In the crosstalk industry, in addition to crosstalk, group crosstalk and monologue, there is also a kind of crosstalk performance with makeup and plot. At first glance, it looks like a sketch, but the techniques such as "laying the foundation, three flips and four shakes" are all crosstalk, so it is called a crosstalk drama.

Moreover, around 49, many folk art troupes had already combined crosstalk and Peking opera.

As for the combination of sketches and crosstalk, it started with "Eating Noodles" by Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao.

Including later sketches such as "Brother-in-law and Brother-in-law", "Playing Poker", and "Free Cell Phone", there are a lot of crosstalk elements and techniques. Even "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow" uses a lot of crosstalk funny methods such as flipping and shaking, eating and vomiting.

Therefore, crosstalk performers like Feng Gong, Niu Qun, and Guo Donglin are also very familiar with performing sketches.

For example, crosstalk is the uncle, comedy sketches are the nephew, and crosstalk drama is the comedy sketches' cousin from his uncle's family. The generations and titles cannot be confused.

The first and second generation sketch kings, Chen Peisi and Zhao Lirong, both followed this path.

By the time of the third generation sketch king Zhao Benshan, elements and techniques of Errenzhuan were incorporated into the sketch.

The reason why today's skits are not good to watch is that, apart from being too preachy, they lack the skills and abilities of crosstalk and the humor of Errenzhuan. They have directly degenerated to the level of ordinary drama, which is bland and as boring as drinking boiled water.

It would be weird if it could be funny!

…………

After listening to Jiang Kun's introduction, Zhu Shimao suddenly realized: "So I will be the supporting actor and Pei Si will be the funny actor, right?"

"Then it's not crosstalk, it's just more performative!" Chen Peisi frowned.

Jiang Kun waved his hand and said, "I think Teacher Fang wants you to support and amuse each other during your performance."

"Yes, that's what I meant."

Fangyan suggested cutting off the beginning and the end of "Examination of Actors" and refining it into a short sketch, and then incorporating some of the gag techniques in crosstalk, such as "eating and vomiting", into it, and finally forming a work of more than ten minutes with accurate words.

"This is great! This format is even fresher than the pantomime skit "Pepper Noodles"!"

Chen Peisi's frown relaxed.

“Is it fresh?”

Fang Yan said: "If this program is successful, you have created a new type of folk art. In the future, you may be called the 'Father of Skit Composition'."

Zhu Shimao was startled, "Don't say that, you are the 'father of skits'."

Chen Peisi smiled and said, "Yes, yes, you are the father of skits."

"Our opinion doesn't count in this matter. Let's leave it to the people to decide." Fang Yan reminded, "The most urgent task now is to arrange this skit. Don't rush when organizing the jokes. It's best to lay out the foreshadowing and lay the groundwork layer by layer, so that the jokes can be played out."

Chen Peisi said in embarrassment: "But Lao Mao and I don't know how to do crosstalk."

Fang Yan turned around and said, "Teacher Jiang Kun, I'm afraid you'll have to take action on this."

Jiang Kun readily agreed and took on the task of helping Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao re-arrange the skit.

Huang Yihe sighed: "It would be great if there were more skits like this."

"If there is no mandatory requirement for educational significance, I believe there will be more and more funny skits in the future, and they will get better and better."

The dialect is meaningful.

Huang Yihe asked: "This is also the most difficult and tricky part. Teacher Fang, do you have any good ideas?"

"There is no need to force every program of the Spring Festival Gala to have educational significance."

Fang Yan smiled and said, "This skit by Pei Si is purely to make the people happy. Then can't we just arrange something with positive energy?"

Huang Yihe smiled bitterly: "But where can we find it at this critical moment?"

"In the future, you can place an advertisement for skits in the Huaxia Television Newspaper."

Fang Yan said: "But now, the matter is urgent, let me write the script for this skit."

"That's great!"

Huang Yihe was very excited and asked immediately what he needed.

"For this skit, we need to find an old lady who can act, and she must be simple and approachable."

“Do you have someone suitable?”

"Zhao Lirong, my mother really likes to watch her commentary on operas."

"I got it."

Huang Yihe asked: "Teacher Fang, can you tell me what this skit is about?"

Fang Yan glanced at him and said, "How do you feel about your heroic mother's day?"

Huang Yihe immediately felt full of positive energy when he heard the name and rubbed his hands excitedly. "It's a pity that the casting for Dream of Red Mansions has not been completed yet, otherwise, they could have appeared on the Spring Festival Gala."

"You reminded me that even though Dream of the Red Chamber is not good enough, we still have Journey to the West!"

The two discussed the details of the Spring Festival Gala, and Fangyan was looking forward to the 84 Spring Festival Gala, which would be different from the previous life.

It's funny, it's the main theme, it's emotional! I don't know how to lose such a rich battle!
………………

After lunch, Jiang Kun stayed at the Bayi Film Studio and continued to discuss the rearrangement of the skit with Chen Peisi and Zhu Shimao.

Fang Yan and Huang Yihe went to the Hua Xia Ping Opera Troupe where Zhao Lirong was, which happened to be located in Xiluoyuan in Fengtai.

As soon as I reached the door, I was stopped by the old man in the security room, "Excuse me, comrade, who are you looking for?"

"Let's look for Teacher Zhao Lirong."

Fang Yan glanced at Huang Yihe, and Huang Yihe immediately took out his universal work ID and handed it over.

The old man took a look and said enthusiastically, "Teacher Zhao Lirong, she's here, she's probably singing "Flowers as Matchmakers" right now."

Looking at their departing backs, the young man asked in surprise: "Who are they?"

"That person is the director of the Arts Department of CCTV."

The old man was amazed and said, "I don't know who that young man is, but he must be a high-ranking official."

The young man was shocked and asked, "How did you know that?"

The old man rolled his eyes and said, "Nonsense, to be able to keep the director of CCTV at his side, he must be either a high-ranking official or a big shot!"

While they were discussing this behind their backs, the two followed the direction given by the security guard and came to the open space in front of the building.

"Flowers bloom in spring, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen, sixteen, sixteen, see the corn blossoms, sixty-nine in spring."

Listening to Zhao Lirong's familiar voice, Fang Yan couldn't help but want to say something.

"What's needed now is a new style of performance, with explosive movements, not that style! It should be like this, 'June 6, June 6, June 6, June 6!'"

As they looked at the second-generation sketch king, Zhao Lirong also spotted the two strangers:
"Comrade, who are you looking for?"

"My name is Fang Yan, and this is Director Huang Yihe from CCTV. I came here to see you today."

Introduce yourself in dialect.

"Hey, you said it's such a long way, you even made a special trip, you can just talk on the phone."

"It's hard to explain over the phone. You're an old artist, so it's our duty to run errands for you."

Fangyan has met many old ladies, but this one left the closest impression on him, as if she were a family member.

Teacher Zhao is 55 years old this year and is a very famous Pingju opera actor, but she has not yet developed into sketches and TV dramas. Playing the role of "Queen of Chechi Kingdom" is something she will do in the future.

Huang Yihe explained his purpose, and Zhao Lirong said hesitantly:
"I've never performed in a skit before. I can participate, but I don't know what to perform."

"As long as you give the nod, we will be responsible for the book, and Teacher Fang will do it himself!"

"Well, then I'll give it a try?"

"We have to try it, it's settled!"

"Hey, are you arranging it for my daughter right now?" Zhao Lirong's mouth was full of Tangshan accent.

"You said I came from far away, why don't you wait in line?"

The dialect amused the old lady.

No one could have imagined that his sketches could be used to identify spies in the future, such as the "Palace Jade Liquor".

After chatting for a while, he "tricked" Zhao Lirong into joining the creative team, and then went home.

For Fangyan, the only regret is that three generations of sketch kings could not be gathered together on one stage.

If only Zhao Benshan, the "king of poetry recitation", could be invited to sing "The spring breeze of reform is blowing all over the land, the spring breeze is blowing all over the land~"

At this moment, Huang Yihe said, "Teacher Fang, we have another request."

After asking Fangyan, I found out that he thought the Spring Festival Gala should be like a TV drama and must have songs that match the entire show.

"I think it would be more appropriate to ask Mr. Qiao to write the lyrics."

"Teacher Fang, we need not one song, but two." Huang Yihe said sincerely, "One song for the opening ceremony and one song for the closing ceremony."

Fangyan touched his chin and remained silent.

Huang Yihe begged again and again: "Please, Mr. Fang, the lyrics don't have to be too complicated. As long as they are about family reunion, the reunion of the motherland, the love between relatives, and hope for the future, all of these are fine."

"Then let's just do the opening credits, and leave the ending credits to Mr. Qiao."

Fangyan did not intend to write "Unforgettable Tonight", a song that cannot be more classic.

(End of this chapter)