1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 264 Can't Go Empty Hands
"How? Are you interested?"

After Arthur Miller finished speaking, he looked at Lin Weimin expectantly.

"Interested? Mr. Miller, you mean..."

Lin Weimin looked puzzled, he already had some guesses in his mind, but he still wanted to confirm.

Arthur Miller had an agitated look on his face, and said: "Farewell My Concubine is a Chinese drama. If it wants to take root in the land of the United States, it needs the joint efforts of you and me. I hope You can go to the United States to work for a while."

After listening to Arthur Miller's words, Lin Weimin did not speak, but pondered for a while, before saying: "Mr. Miller, I don't think it is a good idea to move "Farewell My Concubine" to the stage of Broadway now!"

"Why?" Arthur Miller was surprised and puzzled.

Based on his understanding of staying in China for the past few months, because of the honeymoon period of diplomatic relations between the two countries in recent years, the Chinese have a very good impression of the United States, and they always look forward to it when talking about the United States.

Lin Weimin should have no reason to refuse that his own works can travel across the ocean to the United States to appear on the stage.

"There are too many Chinese elements and plots in "Farewell My Concubine". It is a big project to move to the American stage, and it is not so easy. It is not easy to solve the problem of just one actor.

There is also the part of Peking Opera, how should it be presented?If it is a movie, it can be subtitled, and the drama is a live performance on stage. How to let the audience in the United States feel the charm of Peking Opera is a difficult problem! "

Arthur Miller frowned, "I've also considered the issues you mentioned. My idea is to replace the content of Peking opera with opera, Lin, do you know eunuchs?"

Lin Weimin nodded, "Of course I know. But with all due respect, Mr. Arthur Miller, I don't think changing cultural background is a good choice."

"Why not? You have also seen the effect of my "Death of a Salesman" using Chinese backs, and it is also good."

"That's different. The core of "Death of a Salesman" is a tragedy of a person who loses his self-worth. Although there are many cultures unique to the United States in this drama, they can all be replaced by Chinese culture, so change another culture. The background doesn't detract from his brilliance.

But "Farewell My Concubine" is different. It is rooted in Chinese culture and history, especially in terms of history. Without the magnificent historical background of recent decades, the story of "Farewell My Concubine" is like duckweed in water. "

Lin Weimin's words made Arthur Miller fall into deep thought, and after a long time, his brows relaxed.

"Lin, I have to admit that what you said is very reasonable, and I am convinced by you."

As he said this, his face was somewhat unwilling, "It's a pity! Such a beautiful and beautiful story, but American audiences can't appreciate it!"

Lin Weimin said with a smile: "Mr. Miller, you don't need to worry. The novel "Farewell My Concubine" has been published in the United States, and the sales are not bad. We can wait a little longer. Once the United States reaches a certain level of influence, it will be much easier to bring the original "Farewell My Concubine" drama to the stage of the American drama!"

Arthur Miller clapped his hands and said with some excitement: "Lin, you are right, I almost forgot about it. Yes, it should be like this. I remember what you told me before, "Farewell Overlord The novel "Ji" has been reprinted twice, and it is expected to become a bestseller. At that time, it will be much easier to put on the stage a play full of oriental mystery and classical romanticism!"

His thoughts continued along this line, and he said: "It seems that when I go back, I need my friends and audience to strongly recommend this novel!"

Lin Weimin couldn't help laughing, it seems that Arthur Miller really loves this play deeply.

"Mr. Miller, thank you for your love for Farewell My Concubine!"

Arthur Miller said with a smile: "Lin, you know what? I haven't seen a work that can make me so excited for a long time. I still remember the first time I watched "Farewell My Concubine", my mind A thought popped up in my mind: You Renyi has works like "Farewell My Concubine", why should you import my works?"

Although it is known that the words of the Americans are always a bit exaggerated, what Arthur Miller said still made Lin Weimin very happy.

The only regret is that the two have been talking and communicating in English, and a few talented directors and screenwriters can't understand, and the sense of atmosphere has dropped a lot.

Seeing that Arthur Miller, a foreign friend, loves his works so much, Lin Weimin felt that no matter what, he could not let him go back to the United States empty-handed.

"Mr. Miller, I wonder if you have read my other works?"

"other works?"

Arthur Miller shook his head. As a foreigner, how can he understand a novel written in Chinese? "Farewell My Concubine" was only understood with the help of a translator. He was able to read "Farewell My Concubine" because he caught up with the performance.

"Are you referring to the other few works you wrote for the Arts?" Arthur Miller asked.

Of course, Arthur Miller had heard of Lin Weimin's works for Yiyi.

But since the first few days of easy time, his main energy has been put on directing "Death of a Salesman", and he has never had a chance to understand it.

"There are two works among them, I think they are very suitable to be put on the stage of American drama."

Arthur Miller immediately became interested when he heard what Lin Weimin said.

"Lin, could you please tell me about the content of these two works?"

"of course."

Lin Weimin first told the story of "The Untouchable" to Arthur Miller, and his eyes became brighter and brighter after listening to this story.

After Lin Weimin finished speaking, Arthur Miller excitedly said: "Lin, your story is awesome, and it should be easy to put on the Broadway stage. You just need to change China's Vietnam War into our Vietnam War in the United States. That's it."

Speaking of this, he couldn't help but say a dirty word, "These crazy Vietnamese!"

The Vietnam War is a heavy topic for Americans.

Especially for Arthur Miller and his generation, the Vietnam War had just passed not many years ago, and it was their personal experience, which was even more difficult to let go of.

Lin Weimin couldn't help complaining, what qualifications do you American guys have to scold Vietnamese monkeys, but we Chinese are almost as good at scolding them.

"But..." Arthur Miller pondered.

"But what?"

"Can I see the play in its entirety?" suggested Arthur Miller.

Lin Weimin thought, this shouldn't be too difficult, and when the actors have time, they can perform it for him once.

Lin Weimin believes that the leaders and actors of Renyi Art will not miss the opportunity to push his own drama to the stage of American drama.

After all, this is a matter of glory for the country!

When the two found it, they simply raised their lips, and Teacher Yu was so excited that he couldn't hold it back.

"Good thing! Great thing!"

"We at Renyi will go all out to support!"

"Today, no, today is too late. Tomorrow, tomorrow night, I will organize people, right here at our rehearsal ground, and let Mr. Arthur Miller take a good look at this play!"

Lin Weimin said in Chinese: "Mr. Yu, it's not only "Untouchable", but also "The Horse Man."

"The Man on the Horse?" So Zhi's face was pleasantly surprised again, "This one is going to be introduced?"

"No, just show it to Mr. Miller first. I think it is very appropriate to change this drama and bring it to the United States."

So the creases on his face calmed down a bit, "Oh! All right, all right, I'll arrange it."

Arthur Miller asked, "Lin, what are you talking about here?"

Lin Weimin explained: "I mentioned another drama work with Dean Yu just now, and it hasn't been officially performed yet. I think it can be put on the stage of the United States with a little modification."

"The Man on the Horse" itself is "The Kite Runner" which was modified by Lin Weimin. The original author of this novel is a white-hearted Afghan American. The novel itself is full of the self-righteous values ​​​​of the Americans. It took a lot of effort to Sinicize.

Well this time, if Arthur Miller really wants to be introduced to Broadway, Lin Weimin can almost effortlessly present him with a brand new version of the work that fully conforms to the cultural background and values ​​of the United States.

The biggest change may be the Afghan war in the background of the story.

Arthur Miller pulled Lin Weimin, "Lin, tell me in detail!"

So he glanced at the clock on the wall.

It's already past nine o'clock in the evening, so you two can't change places?
Lin Weimin chatted with Arthur Miller for more than an hour.

"The Kite Runner" itself is a product of the values ​​of the United States. Lin Weimin changed it to "The Man on the Horse". When he told Arthur Miller, he was more inclined to the original values, so Arthur Miller introduced it better.

After listening, his interest became more intense.

In the evening of the next day, "Untouchable", which had been suspended for almost half a year, was performed on the rehearsal ground of Renyi, and Arthur Miller's slap was almost red.

"Lin, you are an outstanding playwright!" Arthur Miller praised.

"Mr. Miller, you are overrated."

Arthur Miller looked at the actors returning to the backstage after the curtain call one by one, looking forward to tomorrow's "The Horseman" more and more.

Another day later, "Horse Man" was staged again at the Human Art Rehearsal Ground.

Compared with "Untouchable", which was performed a little bluntly due to the suspension of the show for half a year, "The Lasso Man" performed more smoothly because it has been rehearsing.

As the curtain call ended, Arthur Miller's reaction was somewhat different from yesterday's.

"Mr. Miller, what's the matter with you?" Lin Weimin asked the pensive Arthur Miller.

Arthur Miller looked at Lin Weimin, "Lin, both dramas are very good, I'm just wondering which one I should take."

Children make choices.

Lin Weimin laughed and said, "Why bother, is everything bad?"

(End of this chapter)