睡魔神的流变与昆曲《惊梦》的表演传统

The Evolution of the Sleeping God and the Performance Tradition of An Enchanting Dream

昆曲自清代形成的表演传统不仅包括演员身体表演的代际传承,还包括身体表达背后叙事逻辑的惯性延续,它们共同构成了优秀表演艺术家的舞台直觉。《牡丹亭·惊梦》的舞台表演至迟在清代已经定型,其中“以睡魔神引导杜、柳入梦”的表演结构在历代演员的舞台实践中逐渐稳固为表演传统。它既凝结了中国戏曲的舞台智慧,也符合世界戏剧的审美诉求。昆曲表演从古典到现代的兼容转化应当考虑代际传承中表演结构的根本性延续。这不仅是维持“昆”味乃至传统戏曲表演风格的关键所在,也是中华美学精神存续并走向世界的“道”之所在。

The performance tradition of Kunqu formed since the Qing Dynasty not only concerned the generational transmission and inheritance of physical performance style, but also the continuation of the narrative logic underneath its physical expressions, which together become the stage intuition of outstanding artists. The stage performance of The Peony Pavilion — An Enchanting Dream has been finalized in the Qing Dynasty at the latest, and the structural setting of “the Sleeping God’s guiding DU and LIU into dreams” has gradually become a performance tradition in the stage practice of actors of the following generations. It is not only the condensation of the stage wisdom of Chinese Xiqu, but also a conformity to the aesthetic demand of world theatre. The inclusive transformation of Kunqu performance from classical to modern should take into account the fundamental continuity of performance structure in the performers’ generational impartment and inheritance, which is not only key to maintaining the special style of Kunqu and also the performance style of traditional Xiqu, but also the way for Chinese aesthetics to survive and spread beyond China.