·評劇名家劉文卿與六歲紅

發(fā)達(dá)的現(xiàn)代化舞臺，使戲劇活動達(dá)到了天津歷史上的鼎盛時期。我國古時候，有“百戲會演”之說； 20世紀(jì)二三十年代的天津，可以說是“百臺競演”。各種表演門類在藝術(shù)上的碰撞，導(dǎo)致了不同藝術(shù)的相互吸收、滲透、融合，從而不僅豐富了各自的表演手段和技術(shù)，而且也孕育了新的藝術(shù)門類的胚胎。
評劇就是一個新的藝術(shù)胚胎，它是從天津的戲劇舞臺上脫胎出來的。評劇的前身是蓮花落子，它本是“行乞之歌” ,盛行于唐山一帶，為農(nóng)民的自娛性俗曲小調(diào)，光緒年間開始在天津流行。據(jù)光緒十年(1884)張燾輯《津門雜記》記載： “北方之唱蓮花落者，謂之落子，即如南方之花鼓戲也，系妙齡女子登場度曲，雖于妓女外別樹一幟……一日兩次開演，不下十人，粉白成綠，體態(tài)妖嬈，各炫所長，動人觀聽； 彼自命風(fēng)流者，爭先快睹，趨之如鶩，擊節(jié)嘆賞，互相傳述。”
由于蓮花落子鄉(xiāng)土氣息濃厚，唱詞通俗易懂，深受天津所謂 “打八岔”下層觀眾的歡迎。但統(tǒng)治當(dāng)局卻視其“大傷風(fēng)化” ,在天津不能登大雅之堂，只能作“撂地” 、“跑棚”演出。甚而遭到禁止，不得不改名為太平歌詞。如詩云：“盈盈嬌小女彈詞，別有風(fēng)流絕世姿，一事令人惆悵甚，下場容易上場遲； 茶寮酒肆額紛題，逐隊呼朋東復(fù)西，知否嚴(yán)閨燈影下，嬌兒和淚伴嬌妻。” 由于蓮花落有廣大的市民階級基礎(chǔ)，在天津發(fā)展很快。光緒二十七年(1901),天津當(dāng)局頒發(fā)禁令，將趙家班等9個蓮花落班社逐出天津。7年后，落子演員再度入津，又逢光緒、慈禧兩次 “國喪” ,禁止演出，再次被逐出天津。
但是，人民對文化的需求是禁不住的。為了圖謀生存，挽救瀕于危亡的蓮花落子，成兆才、倪俊聲等落子演員，對其聲腔、表演、音樂、劇目進(jìn)行了全面改革，使落子脫盡了舊有的羽毛，發(fā)展成一種新的劇種——評劇。
1915年，成兆才等以“慶春平腔梆子”之名，混過了官府的耳目，第3次入津，在南市平安大街的燕樂茶園正式演出，轟動津門。不僅市民觀眾大飽眼福，而且連當(dāng)時在天津演出的大腕京劇名家梅蘭芳等，也前去觀看月明珠演出的《杜十娘》。
評劇的興盛，使當(dāng)時天津建有專門為評劇演出的落子館。如華樂落子館，位于南市榮業(yè)大街，建于1915年，原名賓樂書場； 1919年改名落子館，后改名聚華劇院； 1965年，改為勞動劇場。權(quán)樂落子館，位于南市永安大街，建于1916年； 曾名權(quán)樂茶園、權(quán)樂坤書館、聚通戲院、權(quán)樂戲院； 1954年，改名權(quán)樂影劇院； 1981年，改名長虹曲藝廳。同慶落子館，位于東南角閘口街東口，原名同慶茶園； 后改名同慶坤書館，是天津“七大坤書館”之一； 后改名國光影劇院。群英樂子落，位于南市東興大街，建于1920年，李金順最早在此演出；解放后改為群英戲院。慶云落子館，位于南市慎益大街，原名慶云茶園，也是天津“七大坤書館”之一； 1916年改為樂子館，后又改名慶云戲院、慶云影劇院、共和戲院、南市劇場。
在評劇唱紅的基礎(chǔ)上，成兆才等又創(chuàng)造了《楊三姐告狀》等一些新劇，使評劇成為一時的熱門戲； 加上李金順、花蓮航等一批女評劇藝人的登上舞臺，使評劇與京劇、梆子，成三足鼎立之勢。

·著名評劇演員李文芳

Operas reached to climax in Tianjin because of theappearance of modern theatres. In ancient China,it wassaid that "a hundred types of operas were performedtogether". In 1920s and 1930s,various types of operaswere performed in Tianjin,which absorbed each otherand created new kinds with innovated skills.
Ping Opera was a new kind of opera created fromTianjin opera stage. Ping Opera`s former style was LotusLaozi,songs of beggars popular among Tangshan`speasants for self-entertainment,which was popularduring the Emperor Guangxu`s reign. Zhang Tao`sTianjin Miscellanea in 1884 described that "Lotus Laoziin north China just like the drum opera in south Chinaare performed by young women,different from theperformance by street girls. It performed twice a day byat least ten girls with slim figures in beautiful clothes.Those who claimed themselves romantic hurried towatch the performance and admired the actresses."
Lotus Laozi was easy to understand and popularamong the grassroots,but the government thought itwas not elegant and even forebodes it. Lotus Laozi hadto be performed on the streets or in the sheds. A poemdescribed that "Beautiful girls performed Lotus Laoziwith charm and romance. It is a pity that somethinghinders them from entering on the stage,although theyare popular in tea houses and restaurants. Who knowsthat baby and young wife are crying late at night?"Since Lotus Laozi was popular among townspeople,it developed quickly in Tianjin. In 1901,Tianjingovernment issued a notice and expelled 9 Lotus Laoziteams including Zhao`s Team out of Tianjin. Seven yearslater,the performers entered Tianjin again. Unfortunately,Guanxu and Cixi died. They were forced out of Tianjinagain. But the demand of the people for culture couldnever be controlled. To save Lotus Laozi,Chen Zhaocai,Yu Junsheng and other performers reformed it in tone,action,music and stories which became a new opera-Ping Opera.
In 1915,Chen Zhaocai and his colleagues passedthe government`s censorship by the name of "Ping ToneBangzi of Qingchun" and entered Tianjin the third time.They performed at Yanyue Tea House in Ping`an Streetof Nanshi,which caused a sensation among the audiencein Tianjin. Even Mei Lanfang,the master of PekingOpera,went to watch Dushi Lady played by Yuemingzhuduring his performance in Tianjin.
The popularity of Ping Opera in Tianjin,mademore Laozi House built for Ping Opera. Huayue LaoziHouse,located in Rongye Street of Nanshi,was builtin 1915. Its original name was Binyue Story-tellingHall. It changed name to Laozi House in 1919 and thenJuhua Theater.In 1965,it was called Labor Theater.Quanyue Laozi House,located in Yong`an Street,wasbuilt in 1916. It previous names were Quanyue TeaHouse,Quanyue Story-telling Hall,Jutong Theater andQuanyue Theater. It was called Quanyue Cinema in1954 and Changhong Folk Arts Hall. Tongqing LaoziHouse,located in Zhakou Street of Dongnanjiao,wasonce called Tongqing Tea House. Later it changed nameto Tongqing Story-telling Hall,which was one of thetop seven of its kind in Tianjin. It once used the nameof Guoguang Cinema. Qunying Lezilao,located inDongxing Street of Nanshi,was built in 1920. Li Jinshunonce performed here. After the liberation,it changedname to Qunying Theater. Qingyun Laozi house,locatedin Shenyi Street of Nanshi,was once named QingyunTea House as one of the top seven story-telling halls. In1916,it changed to a Laozi house. It changed name toQingyu Theater,Qingyu Cinema,Gonghe Theater,andNanshi Theater.
With the success of Ping Opera,Cheng Zhaocaicreated new operas of "Sister Yang`s Lawsuit",etc. Therewere Li Jinshun,Hua Lianhang and other actresses whoentered on the stage. Ping Opera,Peking Opera andBangzi became the three best operas in Tianjin.

·著名評劇演員白玉霜