京(jing)(jing)劇《梅妃(fei)(fei)》是程(cheng)(cheng)硯秋(qiu)(qiu)先(xian)生在1925年編演(yan)的(de)。民(min)國十七年即1928年9月20日首演(yan)于鳴和(he)社夜戲(xi)華樂園。程(cheng)(cheng)硯秋(qiu)(qiu)飾(shi)(shi)梅妃(fei)(fei)江采萍,郭(guo)仲衡飾(shi)(shi)唐玄(xuan)宗,趙(zhao)桐(tong)珊飾(shi)(shi)楊玉環(huan);李洪(hong)春(chun)、周瑞(rui)安(an)、王(wang)又(you)荃合作演(yan)出(chu)。程(cheng)(cheng)、郭(guo)均(jun)有唱片傳世(shi)。該劇與(yu)《紅拂(fu)傳》、《文姬歸(gui)漢》為程(cheng)(cheng)硯秋(qiu)(qiu)早(zao)期三(san)大名(ming)劇。與(yu)梅蘭芳的(de)《楊貴(gui)妃(fei)(fei)》(《太(tai)真外傳》)、尚小(xiao)云的(de)《漢明妃(fei)(fei)》和(he)荀慧生的(de)《斬戚姬》(《魚(yu)藻宮(gong)》)合稱為京(jing)(jing)劇四大名(ming)旦的(de)“四妃(fei)(fei)”。收錄于《京(jing)(jing)劇大師·程(cheng)(cheng)硯秋(qiu)(qiu)老唱片全集》。
程硯秋 飾 江采萍
備注 梅妃,旦(dan)角(jiao)
郭仲衡 飾 唐玄宗
備注 唐朝皇帝(di),老生
趙桐珊 飾 楊玉環
備注 楊貴妃,旦角
王又荃 飾 -
唐明皇李(li)隆基(ji)(ji)選色(se)征歌,高力士(shi)在(zai)(zai)江南訪來江仲(zhong)遜的女兒采蘋(pin),深受寵愛,封為貴妃(fei)(fei)(fei);因(yin)她(ta)喜(xi)愛梅(mei)(mei)花(hua),賜號梅(mei)(mei)妃(fei)(fei)(fei),并特地(di)建造了一座(zuo)梅(mei)(mei)亭(ting),但不(bu)久又得了楊玉環,厭舊喜(xi)新。梅(mei)(mei)妃(fei)(fei)(fei)獨居后宮(gong),回(hui)(hui)憶當年盛(sheng)況,引(yin)起了無限的幽怨(yuan),顧影徘徊,賦詩寄意;但李(li)隆基(ji)(ji)惑(huo)于(yu)楊妃(fei)(fei)(fei),終不(bu)再加理睬。安(an)祿山反,李(li)隆基(ji)(ji)倉(cang)皇入川,梅(mei)(mei)妃(fei)(fei)(fei)死在(zai)(zai)亂兵之(zhi)中。郭(guo)子儀戡平安(an)史(shi)之(zhi)亂,李(li)隆基(ji)(ji)重回(hui)(hui)到宮(gong)中,一天偶(ou)然到梅(mei)(mei)亭(ting)游玩,忽然想起梅(mei)(mei)妃(fei)(fei)(fei),感(gan)傷(shang)中睡去(qu),依稀見到梅(mei)(mei)妃(fei)(fei)(fei)前來,訴說(shuo)離(li)情,醒來卻(que)是一夢,惆悵唏噓,回(hui)(hui)宮(gong)而去(qu)。
《梅(mei)妃(fei)》的(de)(de)唱(chang)工(gong)繁重(zhong),歌舞并陳,是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)的(de)(de)精心之(zhi)作,他(ta)極為珍(zhen)視,年(nian)(nian)只(zhi)一(yi)演,多(duo)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)年(nian)(nian)底封箱時(shi)期,當然(ran)(ran)必定上座滿堂的(de)(de)。談(tan)到這出戲(xi)(xi),不(bu)(bu)(bu)妨(fang)談(tan)談(tan)四(si)大名(ming)(ming)(ming)旦(dan)之(zhi)間(jian),對于(yu)排(pai)新戲(xi)(xi)的(de)(de)勾(gou)心斗(dou)(dou)角。梅(mei)蘭(lan)芳(fang)(fang)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)排(pai)新戲(xi)(xi)先進,尚(shang)(shang)、程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、荀三人(ren)最(zui)早是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)追(zhui)隨(sui),后來就有(you)競爭(zheng)的(de)(de)含義(yi)了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le)。梅(mei)蘭(lan)芳(fang)(fang)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)民國(guo)(guo)七年(nian)(nian)排(pai)了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le)一(yi)出《紅(hong)(hong)線(xian)盜盒》。程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)硯秋(qiu)(qiu)就追(zhui)蹤(zong)也(ye)找一(yi)位名(ming)(ming)(ming)字與紅(hong)(hong)有(you)關(guan)的(de)(de)古時(shi)奇(qi)女子排(pai)一(yi)出戲(xi)(xi),于(yu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)十二(er)年(nian)(nian)春(chun)排(pai)出了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le)《紅(hong)(hong)拂傳》。尚(shang)(shang)小云(yun)也(ye)不(bu)(bu)(bu)示(shi)弱,在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)十二(er)年(nian)(nian)冬推(tui)出了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le)《青門盜(紅(hong)(hong))綃(xiao)》,有(you)時(shi)也(ye)貼《紅(hong)(hong)綃(xiao)》。后來不(bu)(bu)(bu)唱(chang)這出戲(xi)(xi)了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le),就把(ba)本子給(gei)了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le)富連成(cheng),使李(li)世(shi)芳(fang)(fang)排(pai)演,改名(ming)(ming)(ming)《昆侖劍(jian)俠傳》。荀慧生排(pai)新戲(xi)(xi),前文已經談(tan)過,在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)梅(mei)、尚(shang)(shang)、程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)、朱、徐、于(yu)(連泉)之(zhi)后了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le),所以(yi)(yi)他(ta)的(de)(de)《紅(hong)(hong)娘》出現得最(zui)晚。總算四(si)大名(ming)(ming)(ming)旦(dan)各有(you)一(yi)出以(yi)(yi)紅(hong)(hong)字為名(ming)(ming)(ming)的(de)(de)奇(qi)女子本戲(xi)(xi)。尚(shang)(shang)、荀兩人(ren),與梅(mei)只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)暗斗(dou)(dou),而(er)(er)且自知聲勢、造詣,一(yi)切不(bu)(bu)(bu)如(ru)(ru)梅(mei),只(zhi)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)遙遙追(zhui)趕罷了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le)。唯(wei)有(you)程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)硯秋(qiu)(qiu)雄心萬丈,與梅(mei)由暗斗(dou)(dou)趨向(xiang)明(ming)爭(zheng),而(er)(er)且走上分庭抗禮、互不(bu)(bu)(bu)相(xiang)讓的(de)(de)階段。梅(mei)蘭(lan)芳(fang)(fang)從民國(guo)(guo)十四(si)年(nian)(nian)到十六(liu)年(nian)(nian),陸續(xu)排(pai)了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le)頭二(er)三四(si)本《太真(zhen)(zhen)外(wai)傳》,這是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)以(yi)(yi)楊(yang)(yang)玉(yu)(yu)環(huan)為主(zhu)的(de)(de)戲(xi)(xi)了(le)(le)(le)(le)(le)。在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)二(er)本《太真(zhen)(zhen)外(wai)傳》里,雖然(ran)(ran)也(ye)有(you)“搜(sou)屣拈釵(chai)”的(de)(de)關(guan)目(就是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)楊(yang)(yang)貴妃(fei)偵知唐明(ming)皇偶與梅(mei)妃(fei)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)一(yi)起,拈酸(suan)前往搜(sou)查的(de)(de)情節。),但是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)梅(mei)妃(fei)不(bu)(bu)(bu)見明(ming)場。程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)硯秋(qiu)(qiu)以(yi)(yi)江(jiang)采蘋為主(zhu),楊(yang)(yang)玉(yu)(yu)環(huan)為配角。排(pai)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)針對《太真(zhen)(zhen)外(wai)傳》而(er)(er)出發的(de)(de),戲(xi)(xi)中也(ye)有(you)”搜(sou)履拈釵(chai)”關(guan)目,楊(yang)(yang)玉(yu)(yu)環(huan)上明(ming)場。但有(you)意思的(de)(de)是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi),據歷史(shi)記載(zai),楊(yang)(yang)玉(yu)(yu)環(huan)體態豐(feng)盈,“環(huan)肥”是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)有(you)名(ming)(ming)(ming)的(de)(de),江(jiang)采蘋卻是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)苗條(tiao)的(de)(de)骨感美人(ren)。但是(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)(shi)在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)《梅(mei)妃(fei)》劇中,程(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)硯秋(qiu)(qiu)的(de)(de)江(jiang)采蘋,體態豐(feng)盈,而(er)(er)芙蓉草的(de)(de)楊(yang)(yang)玉(yu)(yu)環(huan),骨瘦如(ru)(ru)柴,在(zai)(zai)(zai)(zai)外(wai)型上,與真(zhen)(zhen)人(ren)正正相(xiang)反(fan),就不(bu)(bu)(bu)免使人(ren)啞然(ran)(ran)失笑。