Ma Lan

Ma Lan (born 23 April 1962) is a Chinese performing artist of Huangmei opera[1] who usually plays dan (female) roles. Before her abrupt (and unannounced) departure from the stage in 2000, Ma Lan was considered the most popular Huangmei opera performer in the country.[2] She has won the Plum Blossom Award, the China TV Golden Eagle Award, and the Flying Apsaras Award, and performed on CCTV New Year's Gala in 1984, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1997, and 2005. She is often compared to the 1950s/1960s superstar Yan Fengying,[3] whom she movingly portrayed in a hit 1988 TV series.

For the biologist, see Ma Lan (biologist). For other uses, see Malan (disambiguation).
In this Chinese name, the family name is Ma.
Ma Lan
Born (1962-04-23) April 23, 1962
Taihu County, Anhui, China
OccupationHuangmei opera performer
Years active1980–2000
EmployerAnhui Huangmei Opera Company
Known forDan roles
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1992)​
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese马兰
Simplified Chinese馬蘭

Ma Lan is married to writer Yu Qiuyu. In a 2006 blog post, Yu Qiuyu blamed toxic workplace politics and corruption in Anhui Huangmei Opera Company for his wife's involuntary retirement at age 38.[4] This post generated fervent discussions.[5][6]

Biography

Ma Lan was born in Taihu County, Anhui in 1962, and graduated from Anhui Acting Performance School in 1975, where she majored in the performance of Huangmei opera. Succeeding in her debut in 1980, she later created some vivid portrayals of famous characters, such as the artist Zhang Yuliang, Jia Baoyu in Dream of the Red Chamber, Zhu Yingtai in the Butterfly Lovers, Princess Yunhua in the Daughter of the Dragon King, Yan Fengying in Yan Fengying, and Cui Yingying in Romance of the Western Chamber. In 1987 she won the Plum Blossom Prize, and in 1988 she won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actress and the Flying Apsaras Award for Outstanding Actress for her portrayal of Yan Fengying. Most of her performances are still considered as among the best examples of the art of Huangmei opera.

Repertoire
English Title Original Title Role Notes
The Female Imperial Son-in-Law女駙馬Feng Suzhen
Daughter of the Dragon King龍女Yunhuamade into a 1984 film
The Female Painter from the Brothel風塵女畫家Zhang Yuliang
Much Ado About Nothing無事生非BicuiBased on Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing
Romance of the Western Chamber西廂記Cui Yingying
An Exhumation Dream劈棺驚夢Lady Tianmade into a 1988 TV series
Dream of the Red Chamber紅樓夢Jia BaoyuMa Lan's only cross-gender role
Swing Frame鞦韆架
Butterfly Lovers梁祝Zhu Yingtai

Filmography
Year English title Original title Role Notes
1986Journey to the West西遊記Yin Wenjiao
1988Yan Fengying严凤英Yan Fengying

Awards

Huangmei opera

Ma Lan received the prestigious Plum Blossom Award in 1987.

TV series
Year # Award Category Work Result
1988 8th Flying Apsaras Awards Outstanding Actress Yan Fengying Won
6th China TV Golden Eagle Award Best Actress Won

References
  1. Zhao Yan (2008-01-16). "Ma Lan won Outstanding Asian Artists". China Central Television.
  2. Bai Yansheng (白燕升) (June 2008). "情归何处——马兰散记" [Whence Art Thou: Random Notes on Ma Lan]. Chinese Theatre (中国戏剧) (in Chinese): 51–53.
  3. Tian Tian (2009-07-24). "Huangmei Opera Artist Ma Lan". China Radio International.
  4. "【专题】马兰为何离开安徽黄梅戏院" [Why Did Ma Lan Leave Anhui Huangmei Opera Company]. Sina.com (in Chinese).
  5. Jia Zhigang (贾志刚) (September 2006). "体制对不起马兰, 马兰等不起体制" [The System Failed Ma Lan, but Ma Lan Cannot Wait for the System]. Arts Criticism (艺术评论) (in Chinese): 14–15.
  6. He Yuren (何玉人) (September 2006). ""秋千架"中的摇荡" [The "Swing Frame" Sways]. Arts Criticism (艺术评论) (in Chinese): 15–17.
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