On the afternoon of December 5th, Liu Kun, an Associate Professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature at the School of Literature, Nankai University, was invited to deliver a captivating lecture on the topic of “Cao Yu and the Artistic World of Thunderstorm” to the faculty and students of the College of Foreign Languages. His lecture centered on Cao Yu and his masterpiece, Thunderstorm (Leiyu). The lecture was divided into three parts: Cao Yu’s personality, the characters in Thunderstorm, and the art of Thunderstorm.
Firstly, Professor Liu Kun invited audiences to compare two photos of Professor Cao Yu in his youth and later years, which prompted audiences to delve into Cao Yu’s life. Cao Yu was born in a declining feudal bureaucratic family in Tianjin. His participation in the Nankai New Drama Troupe during his time at Nankai High School laid the groundwork for his venture into plays. The Nankai New Drama Troupe was established by the first Chancellor Zhang Boling after he traveled to Europe and the United States to study education. He adopted the Western form of drama, placing great emphasis on the originality of scripts and the development of theatre theories. It can be said that the Nankai New Drama Troupe was the spiritual birthplace of Cao Yu.
Secondly, Professor Liu Kun guided audiences to focus on the Thunderstorm’s work itself. Zhou Puyuan, the protagonist of the play, was actually a friend of Cao Yu’s father, and his frequent visits to Cao Yu’s home enabled Cao Yu to portray Zhou Puyuan with authenticity and rich detail. Liu Kun suggested that Cao Yu’s character Zhou Puyuan has various facets. Therefore, it is crucial to consider and emphasize the contrasts and dramatic conflicts in Zhou Puyuan’s portrayal during the rehearsal process. The structure of Thunderstorm follows a typical retrace structure, utilizing the retrospective technique to organize the development of the play. The story of the play spans more than thirty years, but it unfolds within the concentrated time, place, characters, and emotions of a single day. Professor Liu integrated the play’s structure with acting instructions tailored to the student’s respective roles.
Finally, Professor Liu Kun concluded that Thunderstorm is a well-crafted play, featuring strong characters, a compelling story, solid structure, polished language, and good “unconsciousness”. The lecture offered comprehensive guidance for the students and teachers of the College of Foreign Languages on rehearsing the play Thunderstorm. It also emphasized the importance of paying attention to the harmony of foreign language intonation in stage performances.
