“戏提调”与清末民初戏剧名伶及戏剧发展

“Xi Tidiao”,and Renowned Actors and Development of Xiqu in the Late Qing Dynasty and the Early Republic of China

清末民初,随着堂会戏的兴盛,戏提调亦甚为活跃。其称谓因袭了元代即常用的"提调"一词,与明代的提调色长、提调女乐等有一定承继关系,但职责不同。戏提调乃非职业性质的头衔,其职责是为主家操办堂会、邀约名伶和安排戏码;而邀约名伶最为关键,其法宝无非是钱、权和人情。因戏提调的邀约,诸名角大腕汇聚一堂,带有竞技性质,促进了戏剧表演艺术的繁荣与发展。但戏提调常常受到强权的干预,显得有名无实。时过境迁,戏提调便伴随着特殊时期的堂会戏一同退出历史舞台。

At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China,with the flourishing development of Tanghui,an entertainment party with hired Xiqu actors held at home,Xi Tidiao,or performance controller,became very active.Such a title was inherited from the term“Tidiao”which had been in use since the Yuan Dynasty,and had something to do with the Tidiao Sechang and Tidiao Nvyue in the Ming Dynasty.But a Xi Tidiao had different responsibilities.Being a Xi Tidiao did not mean he was in any profession,for his duty was only to organize a Tanghui for the host,inviting renowned actors and arranging Xiqu plays.The most critical thing was to invite renowned actors,and he could do it with nothing but money,power and favor.At the invitation of the Xi Tidiao,many renowned Xiqu actors and even masters gathered together and performed and even competed with each other,which enabled progress and prosperity of Xiqu as a performing art.But the work of a Xi Tidiao was frequently interfered by those in power,leaving him nothing but an empty title.As time went by,changes had taken place,and Xi Tidiao exited the stage of history together with the fading of Tanghui.