Like Christmas, the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important holiday
in the year and a good time for the family to get together. In recent years,
the Spring Festival Evening Party on TV has become another most involved festivity
for Chinese apart from the big dinner, the fireworks and firecrackers.
This Spring Festival will come on January 24, 2001. A few days before that, people work or study
away from home will hasten back as if drawn by magnet. And those at home will buy a large
quantity of food and prepare for the sumptuous feast on the eve of the Spring Festival.
So on the eve of the festival, the whole family will gather round the table and chat over the rich dishes. In addition to this joyous atmosphere, the Spring Festival Evening Party on CCTV (China Central Television) provides a all-round spiritual enjoyment. This is a Chinese characteristic product catering for the festive and happy occasion.
It starts at 8 PM in the ardent expectation from people all over the country.
At that time, all the people will move their attention from the table to the TV. It is said
to be the program with the highest receiving rate. Six hours as it lasts, it is still the
focus on which the audience concentrate. There are various kinds of items on the program,
such as singing, dancing, conjuring, cross talks, acrobatic shows, short plays, and so on,
just like the famous assorted cold dish on Chinese banquet. Among all these,
the cross talk and the short play are two main forms of art loved by the people.
Because they connect with the reality closely, sing the praise of the good and
speak ill of the bad. The cross talk is a traditional performance, and has a history of
more than a hundred years. The two performers talk funny words and use exaggeration and
irony to make the audience laugh. The short play is a newly emerged item. It utilizes simple
stage property and several performers on this specific occasion act out an interesting or
instructive story. It contains many jokes and sometimes is sidesplitting. In the happy
laughters, people are filled with joy and forget all the troubles and cares in the last year.
So soon after it appeared, it became one of the most welcomed performances.
Since the Evening Party is televised nationwide and now is even worldwide,
being transmitted by satellites, it is believed to be a cradle of stars.
Many unknown performers turned famous overnight. But with the interest of the people varies
and developes day by day, the Evening Party is placed a higher expectation. The directors
have to rack their brains, looking for inspiration.
Together with the main program, there are another two focusing on songs & dances and
traditional operas respectively. And it is said in the newspaper a major difference is
taking place this year. In the past, the program was determined by the related leaders.
But now a large audience is invited to the studio and their comments will play an important
part. This act proves a simple truth that it is not a success until the people clap their
hands. To some extent, it also reflects how deep the market economy is taking root in the
society. Watch it on TY or Internet, and tell us your own view.
Written by our column writer Hao Zhuo.
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