幻燈、電光、環球巡演與清末上海戲園的視覺轉向

Magic Lantern, Electric Lights, Global Touring and the Visual Turn of Late Qing Shanghai Theatre

本文透過晚近環球劇場史（Global Theatre History）的視角，研究一八七○至一八八○年代跨國巡演的職業魔術師對上海戲園開始追求視覺特效的啟發及影響。十九世紀環球魔術師的表演使用多種光學和電學設備，其中包括幻燈的交錯投影、感應線圈的高壓電流脈衝和蓋斯勒管製造的奇異光芒，以及亮度遠勝煤氣燈的電弧燈。來自歐洲的魔術師和幻燈放映團隊除了在上海外僑經營的蘭心劇院演出，也將這些設備帶進茶園。隨著環球巡演者一次次的造訪和示範，上海戲園逐步學習不同劇場光源的協調應用，也開始習慣暗場中的單一焦點。一八八○年起日益頻仍的燈彩戲、新辦行頭和實物排場等明顯的視覺轉向，均可追溯至環球巡演帶來的幻燈和電光。

Through the lenses of “global theatre history,” this article examines how the western magicians or, the amusing physicists, of the 1870s and 1880s influenced Shanghai theatre in its collective pursuing of visual effects. Nineteenth-century magicians who toured around the globe commonly adopted optic and electric apparatuses. These included magic lanterns, induction coils, which automatically generate electric sparks, colorful neon-like lights in combination with Gessler’s tubes and arc lamps, the light of which was far brighter than gas lights. After performing in the local Victorian Lyceum Theatre, the touring magicians were often invited to carry on with their illusion shows in the Chinese public theatres. As their scientific apparatuses frequented Shanghai theatres, Chinese audiences, actors and managers became experienced with the blackouts, which were seldom required in the traditional practices, as well as the coordination of different lighting sources. As a result, a surge of newly invented lantern plays emerged in Shanghai. Along with the surge in the 1880s, there was also an apparent need for brand new costumes and reallife objects on the stage instead of conventional wardrobe and props. This paper argues that this visual turn can be connected to the sensation caused by the touring magic lanterns and electric lights.