莎士比亚和梅兰芳

Shakespeare and Mei Lanfang Compared

对戏剧大师莎士比亚和梅兰芳的比较研究,给予我们诸多启发。从戏剧体裁看,形式多样是他们的共同点,莎氏喜剧和梅氏喜剧有异曲同工之妙。莎氏悲剧主要是性格悲剧,表现悲壮美;中国古典悲剧可算是社会悲剧,表现伤感美。两位戏剧大师都是改编的能手,都有点石成金、化腐朽为神奇的本领。与莎氏相比,梅氏在戏剧理论方面的建树更为系统。莎氏长于剧本创作,梅氏长于舞台表演。莎剧文学水平高,可看性强,中国戏曲偏重可听性,缺乏可看性。中国戏曲应该和莎剧联姻,"梅学"和莎学的互相滋养是文化交流的需要。

A comparative study of Shakespeare and Mei Lanfang enlightens us in multiple ways.In terms of genre both dramatists work on a variety of genres.Shakespeare's comedy and Mei's comedy are analogous though different.Shakespeare's sublime tragedy is mainly character tragedy,while classical Chinese tragedy is largely sentimental social tragedy.Both masters are good at adaptation and can turn stone into gold.Compared with Shakespeare,Mei has made systematic achievements in dramatic theory.Shakespeare excels in play writing,and Mei is superior in stage performance.Shakespearean dramas are literary masterpieces worthy of reading,whereas traditional Chinese dramas(xiqu)are less readable,but more for the ear.This essay advocates a marriage between Shakespeare and Chinese xiqu.The need of cultural exchange necessitates a cross-fertilization between Shakespeare studies and Mei studies.