From the fields to the stage: the breakthrough path and cultural confidence of the northern Sichuan lantern opera "The Wind Blows the Fragrance of Rice"

Recently, the Chuanbei Lantern Opera "Wind Blows Rice Ear Fragrance" has been hailed as a shining moment in the Nanchong and even Sichuan opera circles, thanks to its success at the second "Rare Chinese Opera Drama Exhibition". With rural revitalization as the background of the times, the drama deeply integrates intangible cultural heritage inheritance with local life, and has won praise from experts and audiences for its unique artistic innovation.

On March 20th, the modern Chuanbei Lantern Opera short play "Wind Blows Rice Fragrance" created by Nanchong Chuanju Troupe made its debut at the seventh performance of the Second Excellent Chinese Opera Rare Drama Exhibition jointly organized by the China Drama Association, Shandong Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Shandong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and Binzhou Municipal People's Government. This exhibition selected 36 works from 111 plays nationwide. The outstanding performance of "Wind Blows Rice Fragrance" means that the artistic value of Chuanbei Lantern Opera has been recognized at the national level and also promotes the breakthrough dissemination of Nanchong's intangible cultural heritage.

Against the backdrop of rural revitalization practices in Nanchong, "The Wind Blows the Fragrance of Rice Ears" revolves around the collision of the concept of "guarding the fields or running a restaurant" among the inheritors of lantern opera. It not only adheres to the traditional roots of northern Sichuan lantern opera, but also uses innovative techniques to give old opera genres new ideas of the times. In the creative process of the drama, director Wang Dandan cleverly personified the rice paddy fish, and three young actors from Nanchong City Chuan Theatre Company simulated the fish's posture of "probing", "looking", and "playing" with flexible body movements, and engaged in playful interactions with the protagonist. When Zhao Jixiang and Fu Ruyi were arguing on the field ridge over whether to open a restaurant or harvest rice, several fish also joined in and started to cheer. Finally, under the persuasion of their daughter, the couple decided to determine the winner through "fishing". They picked up their fishing rods and engaged in a lively performance with three "rice fish" to win the audience. The drama not only retains the traditional charm of singing and dancing in lantern opera, showcasing the folk opera characteristics of northern Sichuan lantern opera, but also showcases the charm of northern Sichuan lantern opera to the fullest through the director's innovative and upright approach.

In the future, the drama will showcase the fireworks and vitality of folk opera in northern Sichuan to more audiences through grassroots tours, online exhibitions, and other forms. (Li Hongbin, Yang Fan)