四進(jin)士(shi)是(shi)京(jing)劇(ju)傳統劇(ju)目。也在秦腔,蒲劇(ju),豫劇(ju),越劇(ju),湘劇(ju)中(zhong)(zhong)普遍傳唱。另 一個名《節義廉明(ming)(ming)》。見(jian)鼓詞《紫金鐲》。周信(xin)芳、馬(ma)連良均以此(ci)劇(ju)享名,而風格不(bu)同(tong)。川劇(ju)、漢劇(ju)、徽劇(ju)滇劇(ju)、同(tong)州梆子、晉(jin)劇(ju)都(dou)有此(ci)劇(ju)目。湘劇(ju)有《打痞》、《公堂(tang)》,豫劇(ju)、河北梆子都(dou)有《宋(song)(song)士(shi)杰(jie)告(gao)狀(zhuang)》。明(ming)(ming)朝嘉靖年間,新科進(jin)士(shi)毛朋(peng)(peng)、田(tian)(tian)(tian)倫、顧(gu)(gu)讀,劉題(ti)四人(ren)出(chu)京(jing)為官,當時嚴(yan)嵩專權,同(tong)仇敵愾。相約飲(yin)酒中(zhong)(zhong),相互(hu)勉勵(li),赴任后不(bu)違法(fa)瀆(du)職(zhi)(zhi),以報海瑞(rui)舉薦之(zhi)功(gong)德。當時河南(nan)上蔡(cai)縣姚廷春(chun)的妻子田(tian)(tian)(tian)氏(shi)圖謀財產,毒死(si)(si)丈(zhang)夫(fu)的弟(di)弟(di)姚廷美,又(you)(you)串通弟(di)媳楊素(su)貞(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)之(zhi)兄楊青,又(you)(you)把楊素(su)貞(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)轉賣給布商楊春(chun)為妻。楊春(chun)聽素(su)貞(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)哭訴,可憐她(ta)(ta)(ta)的遭(zao)遇(yu),撕毀身契,代她(ta)(ta)(ta)告(gao)狀(zhuang)。正遇(yu)毛朋(peng)(peng)私訪,代寫狀(zhuang)紙,囑去信(xin)陽(yang)州申訴。楊素(su)貞(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)與楊春(chun)失(shi)散(san),遇(yu)到(dao)惡(e)棍,被(bei)(bei)革職(zhi)(zhi)的書吏宋(song)(song)世(shi)杰(jie)所救,認為義女,攜至州衙告(gao)狀(zhuang)。田(tian)(tian)(tian)氏(shi)逼她(ta)(ta)(ta)的弟(di)弟(di)巡(xun)按田(tian)(tian)(tian)倫代通關(guan)節。田(tian)(tian)(tian)給信(xin)陽(yang)知州顧(gu)(gu)讀寫了(le)求情(qing)信(xin)并送上三百(bai)兩賄(hui)賂的白銀。田(tian)(tian)(tian)的下(xia)書差役,恰好投(tou)宿在宋(song)(song)士(shi)杰(jie)店(dian)中(zhong)(zhong),宋(song)(song)偷看信(xin)文,發現(xian)與義女楊素(su)貞(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)事(shi)有關(guan)。顧(gu)(gu)讀讀到(dao)書信(xin)后,徇情(qing)釋放了(le)被(bei)(bei)告(gao),押(ya)禁了(le)楊素(su)貞(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)時,宋(song)(song)上堂(tang)質問,卻被(bei)(bei)杖責后轟(hong)出(chu)堂(tang)來(lai)。遇(yu)到(dao)田(tian)(tian)(tian)春(chun),楊春(chun)又(you)(you)叫(jiao)去巡(xun)按毛朋(peng)(peng)處上告(gao),毛朋(peng)(peng)接狀(zhuang),宋(song)(song)士(shi)杰(jie)作證, 田(tian)(tian)(tian)、顧(gu)(gu)、劉均以違法(fa)失(shi)職(zhi)(zhi)問罪,判(pan)田(tian)(tian)(tian)氏(shi)夫(fu)婦死(si)(si)罪,為素(su)貞(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)(zhen)申明(ming)(ming)冤情(qing)。
此劇情節曲(qu)折,感人(ren)至深。對封建官場貪(tan)污受(shou)賄(hui)、口是心非、草菅人(ren)命、官場腐敗的黑暗現象作了(le)有(you)(you)力的揭露和抨(peng)擊。人(ren)物性格鮮明生(sheng)動,一直(zhi)是受(shou)觀眾歡(huan)迎的劇目(mu)。表(biao)演上(shang)著重(zhong)(zhong)念白和做工(gong)(gong),也(ye)有(you)(you)重(zhong)(zhong)要的唱段。周信芳在“盜書”一場做工(gong)(gong)細膩,三次公堂上(shang)的念白,各有(you)(you)不(bu)(bu)同的處理,被評論界作為表(biao)演范例。這個戲(xi)劇主要高度贊揚和宣傳了(le)宋士杰不(bu)(bu)畏(wei)強暴,剛正不(bu)(bu)阿,路見(jian)不(bu)(bu)平,拔刀(dao)相(xiang)助的義舉。
該劇(ju)最初為(wei)四(si)(si)本連(lian)臺(tai)(tai)本戲(xi),主角是毛朋(peng)(peng)和楊(yang)(yang)素貞,經過不(bu)斷的(de)演(yan)(yan)出,融化為(wei)一(yi)本戲(xi)。也稱為(wei)《宋士杰》。宋士杰成(cheng)為(wei)劇(ju)中主角,前面(mian)的(de)戲(xi)也逐(zhu)漸(jian)省略,—般(ban)只從(cong)柳林寫狀演(yan)(yan)起。早期,雷(lei)喜福、王(wang)鴻(hong)壽、潘月(yue)(yue)樵等(deng)均(jun)曾多次演(yan)(yan)出該劇(ju),周(zhou)信(xin)(xin)芳(fang)于(yu)1912年4月(yue)(yue)2日曾在(zai)迎貴仙茶園演(yan)(yan)出全部《四(si)(si)進(jin)士》,將久(jiu)已不(bu)演(yan)(yan)的(de)前面(mian)部分演(yan)(yan)全。合作者(zhe)有(you)四(si)(si)盞燈(deng)、小(xiao)紅燈(deng)等(deng)。自二(er)十世紀二(er)十年代(dai)以(yi)后,成(cheng)為(wei)周(zhou)信(xin)(xin)芳(fang)、馬連(lian)良(liang)(liang)的(de)代(dai)表劇(ju)目(mu)。兩人(ren)演(yan)(yan)來風格各異,各有(you)所長。1929年12月(yue)(yue)6日,大舞臺(tai)(tai)演(yan)(yan)出由馬連(lian)良(liang)(liang)主演(yan)(yan)的(de)《四(si)(si)進(jin)士》,另由胡碧(bi)蘭飾(shi)(shi)楊(yang)(yang)素貞,曹連(lian)孝飾(shi)(shi)毛朋(peng)(peng),姜(jiang)妙香飾(shi)(shi)田倫,馬富(fu)祿飾(shi)(shi)萬氏。同月(yue)(yue)26日,天蟾舞臺(tai)(tai)演(yan)(yan)出由周(zhou)信(xin)(xin)芳(fang)主演(yan)(yan)的(de)《四(si)(si)進(jin)士》,同臺(tai)(tai)由趙如泉(quan)飾(shi)(shi)毛朋(peng)(peng),小(xiao)楊(yang)(yang)月(yue)(yue)樓飾(shi)(shi)萬氏、王(wang)蕓(yun)芳(fang)飾(shi)(shi)楊(yang)(yang)素貞,劉奎官飾(shi)(shi)顧(gu)讀(du),陳鶴峰飾(shi)(shi)楊(yang)(yang)春。上(shang)海(hai)觀眾得以(yi)在(zai)一(yi)月(yue)(yue)之內先后欣賞馬、麒兩派的(de)《四(si)(si)進(jin)士》,稱一(yi)時之盛。1956年3月(yue)(yue),上(shang)海(hai)電(dian)影制片(pian)廠將此劇(ju)攝成(cheng)彩色戲(xi)曲藝術片(pian),片(pian)名《宋士杰》,周(zhou)信(xin)(xin)芳(fang)主演(yan)(yan)。同年10月(yue)(yue),周(zhou)信(xin)(xin)芳(fang)率上(shang)海(hai)京劇(ju)院赴蘇聯訪問,演(yan)(yan)出了此劇(ju)。得到世界各地戲(xi)劇(ju)愛好者(zhe)的(de)好評(ping)。