四(si)進士(shi)(shi)是京劇傳統劇目(mu)。也(ye)在(zai)秦(qin)腔,蒲(pu)劇,豫劇,越劇,湘(xiang)劇中(zhong)普遍傳唱。另(ling) 一個(ge)名《節義(yi)廉明(ming)》。見鼓(gu)詞《紫金鐲》。周信芳(fang)、馬(ma)連(lian)良均以此(ci)劇享名,而風格不(bu)(bu)同。川劇、漢劇、徽劇滇(dian)劇、同州梆(bang)子、晉劇都有(you)此(ci)劇目(mu)。湘(xiang)劇有(you)《打痞》、《公堂》,豫劇、河(he)北梆(bang)子都有(you)《宋士(shi)(shi)杰告(gao)(gao)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)》。明(ming)朝(chao)嘉靖年間,新科進士(shi)(shi)毛朋(peng)、田(tian)(tian)(tian)倫、顧(gu)讀,劉(liu)題四(si)人(ren)出(chu)京為(wei)官,當時嚴嵩專權,同仇敵愾。相約飲酒中(zhong),相互勉勵,赴任后(hou)(hou)不(bu)(bu)違法(fa)瀆職,以報海瑞舉薦之功德。當時河(he)南上蔡縣(xian)姚廷春(chun)(chun)的(de)妻子田(tian)(tian)(tian)氏(shi)(shi)圖謀財產,毒死(si)丈夫的(de)弟(di)弟(di)姚廷美,又串通弟(di)媳(xi)楊(yang)素(su)(su)貞(zhen)之兄楊(yang)青,又把楊(yang)素(su)(su)貞(zhen)轉賣給布商(shang)楊(yang)春(chun)(chun)為(wei)妻。楊(yang)春(chun)(chun)聽素(su)(su)貞(zhen)哭訴,可憐她的(de)遭遇,撕毀身契(qi),代(dai)她告(gao)(gao)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)。正遇毛朋(peng)私訪(fang),代(dai)寫狀(zhuang)(zhuang)紙(zhi),囑去(qu)信陽(yang)州申訴。楊(yang)素(su)(su)貞(zhen)與(yu)楊(yang)春(chun)(chun)失散,遇到惡棍(gun),被(bei)革職的(de)書(shu)(shu)(shu)吏宋世(shi)杰所救,認為(wei)義(yi)女,攜至州衙告(gao)(gao)狀(zhuang)(zhuang)。田(tian)(tian)(tian)氏(shi)(shi)逼她的(de)弟(di)弟(di)巡按(an)田(tian)(tian)(tian)倫代(dai)通關節。田(tian)(tian)(tian)給信陽(yang)知(zhi)州顧(gu)讀寫了求情(qing)信并送上三百兩(liang)賄賂的(de)白銀。田(tian)(tian)(tian)的(de)下書(shu)(shu)(shu)差役,恰好投宿在(zai)宋士(shi)(shi)杰店中(zhong),宋偷看(kan)信文,發現與(yu)義(yi)女楊(yang)素(su)(su)貞(zhen)事有(you)關。顧(gu)讀讀到書(shu)(shu)(shu)信后(hou)(hou),徇情(qing)釋放了被(bei)告(gao)(gao),押禁了楊(yang)素(su)(su)貞(zhen)時,宋上堂質問,卻被(bei)杖責后(hou)(hou)轟出(chu)堂來。遇到田(tian)(tian)(tian)春(chun)(chun),楊(yang)春(chun)(chun)又叫去(qu)巡按(an)毛朋(peng)處(chu)上告(gao)(gao),毛朋(peng)接狀(zhuang)(zhuang),宋士(shi)(shi)杰作證, 田(tian)(tian)(tian)、顧(gu)、劉(liu)均以違法(fa)失職問罪,判田(tian)(tian)(tian)氏(shi)(shi)夫婦死(si)罪,為(wei)素(su)(su)貞(zhen)申明(ming)冤(yuan)情(qing)。
此劇情節曲折,感人(ren)至深(shen)。對封建(jian)官場貪污受(shou)賄、口是心(xin)非(fei)、草菅人(ren)命(ming)、官場腐敗的黑暗現(xian)象作了有力的揭露和抨擊。人(ren)物性(xing)格鮮明(ming)生動(dong),一直是受(shou)觀眾歡迎的劇目(mu)。表(biao)演上著重念(nian)白和做工,也有重要的唱段。周信芳在“盜書”一場做工細膩(ni),三(san)次公堂(tang)上的念(nian)白,各有不(bu)同(tong)的處理,被評論界作為表(biao)演范例。這個戲劇主要高度贊揚和宣傳了宋(song)士杰(jie)不(bu)畏強暴,剛(gang)正(zheng)不(bu)阿,路見不(bu)平,拔刀相(xiang)助的義舉。
該劇(ju)(ju)(ju)(ju)最初為(wei)(wei)四(si)(si)本(ben)連(lian)(lian)臺(tai)(tai)本(ben)戲(xi)(xi)(xi),主(zhu)(zhu)角(jiao)是(shi)毛(mao)朋(peng)和楊(yang)素貞(zhen),經過不(bu)斷(duan)的(de)演(yan)(yan)(yan)出(chu),融化為(wei)(wei)一本(ben)戲(xi)(xi)(xi)。也(ye)稱為(wei)(wei)《宋(song)士(shi)杰》。宋(song)士(shi)杰成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)(ju)中主(zhu)(zhu)角(jiao),前面(mian)(mian)的(de)戲(xi)(xi)(xi)也(ye)逐(zhu)漸(jian)省略,—般只從柳林寫狀演(yan)(yan)(yan)起。早期(qi),雷喜福、王(wang)鴻壽、潘月(yue)樵等均曾多(duo)次演(yan)(yan)(yan)出(chu)該劇(ju)(ju)(ju)(ju),周(zhou)信芳(fang)于1912年(nian)(nian)4月(yue)2日(ri)曾在(zai)(zai)迎貴仙茶園演(yan)(yan)(yan)出(chu)全部《四(si)(si)進士(shi)》,將久已不(bu)演(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)前面(mian)(mian)部分演(yan)(yan)(yan)全。合作者有(you)四(si)(si)盞燈、小紅燈等。自二十(shi)世(shi)紀二十(shi)年(nian)(nian)代以后,成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)周(zhou)信芳(fang)、馬連(lian)(lian)良的(de)代表劇(ju)(ju)(ju)(ju)目(mu)。兩(liang)人演(yan)(yan)(yan)來風格各異,各有(you)所長。1929年(nian)(nian)12月(yue)6日(ri),大舞臺(tai)(tai)演(yan)(yan)(yan)出(chu)由(you)(you)馬連(lian)(lian)良主(zhu)(zhu)演(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)《四(si)(si)進士(shi)》,另由(you)(you)胡碧(bi)蘭(lan)飾楊(yang)素貞(zhen),曹(cao)連(lian)(lian)孝飾毛(mao)朋(peng),姜妙香(xiang)飾田倫,馬富(fu)祿(lu)飾萬氏(shi)(shi)。同(tong)(tong)月(yue)26日(ri),天蟾舞臺(tai)(tai)演(yan)(yan)(yan)出(chu)由(you)(you)周(zhou)信芳(fang)主(zhu)(zhu)演(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)《四(si)(si)進士(shi)》,同(tong)(tong)臺(tai)(tai)由(you)(you)趙如泉飾毛(mao)朋(peng),小楊(yang)月(yue)樓飾萬氏(shi)(shi)、王(wang)蕓(yun)芳(fang)飾楊(yang)素貞(zhen),劉奎官飾顧讀,陳(chen)鶴峰飾楊(yang)春。上(shang)海(hai)(hai)觀(guan)眾得(de)以在(zai)(zai)一月(yue)之(zhi)內先后欣賞(shang)馬、麒兩(liang)派(pai)的(de)《四(si)(si)進士(shi)》,稱一時(shi)之(zhi)盛。1956年(nian)(nian)3月(yue),上(shang)海(hai)(hai)電影制片廠將此(ci)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)(ju)攝成(cheng)彩色戲(xi)(xi)(xi)曲(qu)藝術(shu)片,片名《宋(song)士(shi)杰》,周(zhou)信芳(fang)主(zhu)(zhu)演(yan)(yan)(yan)。同(tong)(tong)年(nian)(nian)10月(yue),周(zhou)信芳(fang)率上(shang)海(hai)(hai)京劇(ju)(ju)(ju)(ju)院赴蘇聯訪(fang)問,演(yan)(yan)(yan)出(chu)了此(ci)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)(ju)。得(de)到世(shi)界各地戲(xi)(xi)(xi)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)(ju)愛好(hao)者的(de)好(hao)評。