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January 24, 2011

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Never too late for a laugh

By Xu Wenwen | January 24, 2011, Monday | Print Edition

ON seeing Hang Weizhen take to the stage, audiences smile because they know they are going to be in for some laughter.

Hang doesn't let them down. His hilarious self-written skit which he performs in local dialect keeps everyone amused. No wonder he is nicknamed the "Local Zhao Benshan," after Zhao Benshan, one of China's renowned comedians.

Although the 66-year-old is a few years older than Zhao, Hang is only an amateur and was previously a lathe worker. He didn't begin his comedy career until 2007, when the government in his hometown of Yuhang, Hangzhou, was enlisting talent for an art and performance troupe.

Hang from Qiaosi Town, Yuhang, was chosen as the representative of his town. As local residents had long known of his skill in writing essays and drawing traditional Chinese painting, the local government invited Hang to attend a training course in skit creation. In the class, as trainees from different towns conversed, someone said: "You are from Qiaosi Town? But Qiaosi has never contributed a skit."

That was the trigger. On finishing the course, Hang secluded himself at home, resolved to "create some decent skit works for the honor of Qiaosi," he recalled.

All things are difficult before they are easy, but were even more so for Hang, who hadn't even finished middle school. Accordingly, Hang spent all his available time creating his skit.

Apart from reviewing what he had learnt from the course, Hang watched TV shows to learn, and his favorites are Shanghai's huajixi (farce) and Zhao Benshan's skits and sitcoms, "because those comedies are natural and close to real life, and that's what farmers need."

Three months later, his maiden work "Rejoice Too Soon" had its debut at Qiaosi Cultural Night Market, telling the story of a man who persists in buying lottery tickets but never wins anything.

It was a smashing show and ran in the night market for a whole week. Meanwhile, those living around him, aware that their neighbor was writing and performing skits, kept coming to him, wondering what his next release would be.

"That gave me much confidence," said Hang. "Those days were like the happiest days of my life."

Also happy with him was his wife Han Chunxian. She's not only satisfied with her husband's success, but also surprised at his transformation.

"Since my husband retired 12 years ago, he idled away his time, but writing skits has put him back to a busy, fulfilling mode," said Han.

Because he was so busy, Hang got rid of his old habit of sleeping for more than 12 hours a day, and as a result it helped relieve his hypertension.

With the joy of success, Hang turned to his second creation, but this time he was not content with simply tickling people, he wanted to popularize laws.

In the skit "Half and Half," a con artist induces a peasant woman to help him sell a fake antique, and promises to share the profits, but the two are caught by the police and end up sharing handcuffs rather than money.

To make sure the lines are in accordance with the country's law, Hang began to study TV programs about law. His wife became his assistant, helping him practice the lines, get the timing right and give feedback.

In time, Hang was surprised to find his wife was quite talented at acting, so coupled with her sweet voice, she was exactly the heroine he needed in the act.

So "Half and Half" came to be performed by Hang and Han, and after a run of eight days in three towns in Yuhang, it won great applause. Han became Hang's routine actress, and featured in his third work "Trap" as well.

Hang has written three works, all showpieces welcomed by the locals. It is the audience's affirmation that encourages Hang's ambition. During his three years' performing, the amateur skit writer noticed Qiaosi Town boasts many talented artists, and he plans to organize a "grassroots performing troupe" in his hometown.

"I know that many people, especially old citizens, kill their idle time simply by playing mahjong or poker, just like I used to," Hang said, "but I want to offer them more options,and to enrich their life with more culture."

Hangzhou


 

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