2013-09-29

臺灣布袋戲的即興創作及其特質

陳龍廷。〈臺灣布袋戲的即興創作及其特質〉。《民俗曲藝》181 (2013.9): 5-48
Chen Long-ting. “Improvisation in Taiwan’s Puppet Theater.” Journal of Chinese Ritual, Theatre and Folklore 181 (2013.9): 5-48.

Abstract

一般而言,布袋戲並沒如西洋戲劇概念底下的「劇本」,那麼布袋戲是如何進行創作,是饒富趣味的議題。如果說布袋戲的表演有其活戲的傳統,從即興表演的角度來看,臺灣布袋戲的創作顯然並非完全沒有任何章法。本文從即興表演的概念出發,並藉着筆者多年的研究成果作為對話基礎,企圖釐清這些臺灣民間戲劇創作力的來源,甚至重新建立另一種不同的審美觀點,或賦予它們一種價值。
即興表演各有其發展背景的差異,而十六世紀義大利的藝術喜劇(commedia dell’arte)可說是一種典範。這種即興劇場,包括可視情況需要添增枝節的故事綱要、以演員為核心的表演、演員永遠扮演同一個角色、整齣表演由少數幾種類型角色組合而成。
本文嘗試透過演員、故事綱要、角色等即興表演的成分,作為討論的重點,並以臺灣布袋戲的材料進行分析整理,以瞭解這種以某一演員(即主演)為主的即興表演有何特質。首先要重新檢討臺灣布袋戲的提綱,進而瞭解故事綱要的空白在表演藝術的意義,並藉着角色符號學來釐清布袋戲即興創作的特質,最後針對布袋戲主演,瞭解布袋戲主演的戲劇涵養及其人格特質對活戲表演的影響。本文受到現代語言學之父索緒爾(Ferdinand de Saussure)等理論啟發,試圖提出角色符號學等概念,希望可以幫助我們更看清楚臺灣布袋戲即興表演的奧秘。

Generally speaking, there is no specific “script” (according to the western concept) in Taiwanese Puppet Theater. In that case, how the creation process of Puppet Theater is carried out poses one curious question. When the Puppet Theater follows its own “improvised performance” tradition, there obviously exists a certain formula. In this study, I start with the notion of improvised performance and based on my past research I offer to elucidate the source of creativity in Taiwanese folk theater. I shall attempt to reconstruct a different aesthetic perspective for the folk theater, and endow it with a certain value.
Each of the improvised performances all over the world derives from different historical backgrounds. The commedia dell’arte of 16th century Italy is considered by most people to be a paradigm. The improvisational drama includes a basic scenario that allows plot expansion or reduction when circumstances arise, an actor/actress-centered performance, a fixed cast for characters, and a play composed of limited types of characters.
I will center my discussion on factors of the improvised performance, such as actor/actresses, scenario, and characters. Drawing cases from Taiwanese Puppet Theater for analysis, I intend to sort out features of such improvised performances. I will first review extensively the plot guidelines of Taiwanese Puppet Theater, point out the significance of leaving gaps in performance arts, and explicate the elements of improvised performance with character semantics. Finally, I will focus on the personality and thespian talents of the leading puppeteers and their influence on improvised performances. This study is inspired by theories of Ferdinand de Saussure, father of modern linguistics. I propose notions of character semantics, with the hope to further illuminate the subtlety of improvised performance of Taiwanese Puppet Theater.