In the theater, Li Xuanying and Guo Kang sat side by side, watching the drama performance in the center of the square.
This large-scale amphitheater was built in the city with the investment of Marshal Zhang Gongliang during his last triumphal return.
The style of this type of theater has not changed much since classical times. The stage is a semicircle, with dozens of circles of gradually rising seats surrounding the outside edge.
Special walls and columns are set up on the horizontal sides of the stage to facilitate the setting. There are also special machinery and doors to display various stage effects. There are also a row of houses behind and on both sides of the stage, used for various tasks such as makeup, rest, changing scenes and props.
The Greeks in the classical era conducted very in-depth research on this kind of theater. Philosophers, mathematicians and architects conducted a lot of research and practice and summarized many experiences and laws. In the theater, the clever design allows the audience in the back row to hear the lines clearly; the distance between the stage and the seats also takes into account the human perspective and is carefully arranged to ensure that the visual effect is not compromised.
During the Eastern Roman era, drama declined - of course, decline is relative. In Greece and Italy, the folk tradition of liking drama still exists, and at the official level, literati drama also appeared.
As the Italian regions became increasingly prosperous, local drama gradually overtook the Greeks. After the Purple Horde stabilized the situation, the Greeks, who had been troubled by various wars for a long time, were not to be outdone and picked up this old tradition again, drawing on Italian operas and scripts brought by the Purple Horde to form various A new genre.
In fact, because of the accident that occurred when taking control of Dadu for the first time, the senior officials of Zi Zhang were even a little averse to drama. Even so, over the past few decades, this type of art has continued to flourish, and the upper echelons of the Khanate could only accept it. It can only be said that having a strong cultural foundation is different.
When Guo Kang saw this, he couldn't help but sigh at the Greeks' dedication to it - this building and script can be called the crystallization of Greek wisdom. No wonder Li Xuanying likes it here.
Now, the newly launched TV series "The Invincible Sun vs. the Goddess of Night" is being performed in the theater. On the stage, several actors playing goddesses were singing loudly. Guo Kang, on the other hand, was holding the line booklet given out when he entered and was looking at the plot.
After sending Zhu Wenkui and his party home, Guo Kang found Li Xuanying. As a result, he dragged me here without much discussion of the business.
Fortunately, this matter is not urgent. Li Xuanying insisted that the new play was very interesting, so he followed.
The actor in the center of the stage now wears a mask indicating his identity. According to the introduction of the brochure, she is playing the role of Nyx, the goddess of night, who has a prominent position in Greek mythology. However, the goddess's costume is not the black dress recorded in "Theogony", nor is it the classical robe commonly seen on statues, but the dress of a modern Greek noblewoman.
Just listen to her singing in a dramatic voice: "My son is becoming more and more disobedient. This is because all the soldiers in the heaven will support him. The scorching sun is hanging in the sky and the darkness of the Ai family has disappeared. How can we stop him?"
"My daughters -" she sang: "They are all carefully planned by me, how can I stop them?"
As she spoke, she took a few steps back and gave up her position in the center of the stage.
"Did you explain the background setting in the previous episodes?" Guo Kang asked Li Xuanying in a low voice: "I haven't watched it, so I don't know yet."
"Isn't this drama launched by the church recently? I thought you all knew the script." Li Xuanying was a little surprised.
"I told Master Wang the idea of a series, and he did the rest himself." Guo Kang said truthfully: "I really don't know."
"He can do this?" Li Xuanying was surprised for a moment.
"Of course. He also designed the costume and lines of the little princess." Guo Kang told him
"It's a pity that Master Wang didn't become a playwright." Li Xuanying shook her head and said with emotion.
Just as he was talking, another masked character stepped forward and sang: "I have also tried my best, and I have also been hiding and forbearing. However, the brotherhood is as strong as gold, which makes me full of clever tricks, but seems to be stupid. .”
“Mother——” the goddess also sang: “What can I do about it!”
After that, she took a few steps back and left the center of the field.
"This is a review of the story of the previous episode." Li Xuanying took the opportunity to introduce to Guo Kang: "The main goddess at the beginning is the great god Nyx who symbolizes darkness, fate, death, pain and other concepts. Orpheus is used here According to the religious setting, she is the adoptive mother respected by Zeus."
"After Zeus grew up, Nyx still regarded herself as an elder and did not want to give up the power she had gained. So, she and the daughters around her planned various conspiracies all day long to try to maintain her status."
"Although Zeus has divine power and is quite smart, he has a bad temper and is addicted to women, which often leads to a lack of distinction between right and wrong. Therefore, the upright 'Invincible Sun' and his followers often advise him and urge him to work hard. So that the three worlds of heaven, human world and underworld can be harmonious.”
"So, Queen Mother Ni and the goddesses around her were quite dissatisfied with them and often devised various tricks to try to persecute them. But every time, they were able to use virtues such as justice, unity and friendship to resolve various conspiracies. Simple In other words, it’s a battle between light and darkness.”
"This is from the classical era. Apata, the goddess of deception, is also the main villain of the previous film. She tried to trick the 'Invincible Sun' into the dark world and imprison the light. But the sun and his friends united as one and bravely Killed all the monsters on the road, broke through the ambush, and returned to heaven. The beginning of this paragraph is to carry on this story."
"Every element is packed in." Guo Kang said cheerfully: "This mix and match style really looks like Master Wang's handiwork."
After sighing, the performance on the stage continued.
As the goddess of deceit retreats, another character, also dressed as a Greek noblewoman, steps to the center of the stage.
"I, Eris, the god of discord, would like to help my mother solve her problems." She sang loudly: "My sister couldn't do it because her many helpers worked hard; but the more hearts she has, the harder it is to get her together. Let me try my best. "
"I started the Trojan War, and the chaos in the world started on its own. Who in the three realms can be without jealousy? With this glass of wine, I can make his warriors die!"
"This is an allusion to the story of golden apples." Li Xuanying was afraid that Guo Kang didn't know, so she introduced him: "It is said that before the Trojan War, Eris took out two golden apples, which caused the three goddesses to fight, which led to the subsequent war. …”
"Did you remember it?" Guo Kang said in confusion: "This is an apple, not a peach."
"Oh, yes." Li Xuanying reacted immediately: "You are right, I was wrong. In short, this is a classical story of the Greeks, so there is no detailed introduction."
"Hey, but I think this myth is still conservative." He shook his head: "I have always felt that the normal development is that these Greek gods, in order to grab an apple, did not hesitate to promise various priesthoods and statuses, and found other gods. Fighting on behalf of others. In the end, everyone was served by the Heavenly Father. In this way, it is more in line with the Greek style."
Guo Kang thought for a while, but he couldn't refute.
Beside the stage, the chorus began to sing in unison. After a while of compliments, the Goddess of Discord took out a can of wine and introduced:
"This is the best wine in the three realms. I will give it to the bravest warrior as a reward for breaking through the dark realm. Warriors like force and pursue fame, so they will definitely fight."
"Jie Jie Jie, it will be much easier to do it when the time comes." She said with an exaggerated smile.
"Jie Jie, sister is really smart." Other characters also expressed their approval in strange accents.
"Jie Jie Jie, you must seize the opportunity this time." Queen Mother Ni also smiled strangely and said: "Evil Kakaya!"
"My daughter is here!" A goddess stood up.
"The lustful Philotes!"
"I'm here~" Another goddess also responded delicately.
"You guys go help Eris. When the job is done, the Ai family will get another reward!" Queen Mother Ni ordered.
These two people also obeyed the order, so the black curtain fell from the back wall, and the goddesses smiled strangely while hiding behind the scenes. The audience was so amused that they laughed.
Immediately afterwards, the mechanical cranes on both sides of the stage hung another white curtain further in front. The staff entered from the rooms on both sides and began to quickly change the scenery and stage props.
"How's it going? Does this new drama feel good?" Li Xuanying turned to ask Guo Kang.
"There are just too many elements..." Guo Kang said, "It really doesn't matter if it's such a straightforward insinuation?"
"Everyone doesn't care, who cares about this." Li Xuanying didn't seem to care much: "If nothing else, Master Wang is really good at doing this. I don't know where to find these playwrights who can do this kind of script. do it."
"Is he the Patriarch? He wants to preach." Guo Kang was not too surprised: "They used to make up nursery rhymes and so on. Now that they have learned to write scripts, it is normal development."
Li Xuanying thought about it and felt that it seemed reasonable. After all, these market entertainments are indeed the best way to publicize, but people didn't pay much attention to them before.
Just as he was talking, the second act also began.
A group of strong men wearing legion armor walked onto the stage. The narration began to match the actors' movements and introduced everyone that these were famous heroes from all ages. "This even touched the Hall of Heroes." Guo Kang was a little dumbfounded.
"I feel pretty good. No one believes in these pagan religions anymore anyway." Li Xuanying said: "The Greeks have always liked to use these gods as metaphors and symbols in literary works. Because they don't believe in these gods anymore, so literature The effect may be even better.”
"So that's it." Guo Kang nodded.
The narrator continues the introduction, saying that these people are gathering in the palace of the just and brave Sun, practicing martial arts all day long, ready to fight evil and help Olympus.
The actors also posed in pairs, wielding weapons, and danced vigorously to the rhythm of the music.
"Although it is a comedy, the standards are not as high as those of tragedies and dramas, but the choreography is also very detailed." Li Xuanying, an old theater fan, commented: "This kind of dance is much more suitable than the common melodious sounds in daily comedies. You can tell the character’s identity just by looking at it.”
"That's true." Guo Kang complained: "No wonder the Queen Mother is afraid of them. These heroes often go to Mount Olympus to discuss their interests with Zeus."
Soon, a tall man wearing a red robe, a phoenix-winged helmet, and a sun painted on his robe walked onto the stage. Queen Mother Ni quickly walked out of the arena from the other side.
After the two stood still, "Invincible Sun" turned sideways, half facing the audience, half facing Queen Mother Ni, and sang:
"The Sun God is meditating on Mount Olympus, calling the Queen Mother and listening carefully——"
The audience immediately cheered together.
The actors in Sun God obviously have solid singing skills, and even an outsider like Guo Kang can tell that his voice is powerful and confident. He paused briefly to let the cheers pass, and then continued:
"I remember greeting Zeus on the vernal equinox, and we talked about it in the court room;
When it comes to returning to the government, you look uncertain. I guess you must have been obsessed with power! "
The audience cheered in unison again, and Li Xuanying also clapped.
Just listen to "Sun God" speed up the rhythm slightly and ask:
"Now that all the gods in the court have come to admonish you, why don't you listen and instead bully your loyal ministers?"
He cupped his hands and warned loudly: "I advise the Queen Mother to give up the throne. It is the right thing to do. You will regret it when disaster strikes!"
"Okay-" The audience's emotions were obviously aroused.
However, Queen Mother Ni quickly retorted and sang in a fast tempo:
"I thought you were an honest and loyal God; who would have thought that you would take the lead in being so rampant and bad at family relationships.
There are rules and regulations in the three realms, and all gods and gods must abide by them. Do you know that if filial piety does not exist, how can the way of heaven exist? "
"Okay!" Everyone didn't hesitate and applauded again.
"Do Greeks also understand Tsunasa's filial piety?" Guo Kang whispered.
"Then you have to ask Master Wang." Li Xuanying said while applauding: "But it doesn't matter, as long as everyone is happy listening to the show. Is this called...subtle? Anyway, both parties are satisfied."
"That's not bad. The villain's lines are also good." Guo Kang said.
"Well, the Queen Mother is actually a very funny character. Many of the laughs in the play are on her, so the audience actually enjoys it." Li Xuanying explained.
Guo Kang nodded and continued to look at the stage.
After the Queen Mother finished singing her lines, the Sun God turned around, faced the audience, and expressed his thoughts:
"The Queen Mother is very scheming, and I don't know what her tricks are. I can't wait to be caught and lose my honor. Let's see what tricks she has this time."
So, after some steps and actions that showed her entangled mood, the Queen Mother and the heroes left the scene one after another.
The Goddess of Discord walked around the stage holding a wine can, showing that she was in a hurry, and then disappeared behind the scenes. Instead, Philotes, the goddess of desire, walked out first and immediately entangled the sun.
"Oh, my love!" She praised loudly and tried to get closer: "Is your face so resolute just to make me, an infatuated goddess, sink?"
"How can there be love between us?" Taiyang immediately scolded: "My expressions and demeanor are used to cheer up my warriors in dangerous situations!"
"No, my lover!" The goddess praised loudly again: "Is your body so burly just to make me, a weak goddess, obsessed with you?"
"How can there be true love between us?" Taiyang also scolded again: "My muscles and bones are used to give my warriors peace of mind in times of crisis!"
After being repelled twice, Philotes immediately changed his face and cursed: "You ungrateful guy, sooner or later you will pay the price for your arrogance! Now the destined danger is approaching you, and I am the only one who can help Your people. Obey me and I will let you escape from the judgment of my sister Lachesis."
"Who can interfere with fate, who can judge the future? If fate is already destined, how can you change it?" Sun retorted: "You are just a group of liars who steal your name. Go away! When fate comes, I will personally greet it. .”
Philotes shook off his robe and left the stage bitterly as the chorus sang.
(End of chapter)
