FAMILIES, friends and fans bid farewell to Chinese performing artist Zhu Xu at a ceremony in Beijing on Monday. Zhu, one of the most prominent theatrical artists at the Beijing People’s Art Theater, died Sept. 15 in Beijing. He was 88. Zhu, who was born in Northeast China’s Shenyang, Liaoning Province, was known for his stellar portrayal of human emotions on stage. He also starred in many movies, including “Shower” by Zhang Yang and “The King of Masks” by Wu Tianming. The latter film earned him a best actor prize at the Toronto International Film Festival. The veteran artist has always carried a learned and refined image in the hearts of audiences. His performing style that leaves no trace of his own character has been praised as if he were “not playing the character, but living it.” Zhu enrolled at North China University in May 1949 and majored in theatrical art. His career in theater began when he worked his way up from being a backstage technician specializing in lighting after graduation. He then gradually transitioned to performing on stage, and later joined the drama troupe at the Central Academy of Drama, one of the top institutions for theater in China. When Beijing People’s Art Theatre was formed in 1952, then 22-year-old Zhu became one of its first members. (SD-Agencies) |