Background
Mr. Mei was a native of Yangchow, Kiangsu and born at Peking in 1898, where his father and grandfather were both famous actors.
Entertainer female impersonator
Mr. Mei was a native of Yangchow, Kiangsu and born at Peking in 1898, where his father and grandfather were both famous actors.
At age of 18, he made his first appearance on the stage as a female impersonator. With years of experience and practice, he has become a very skilful performer, mastering the art of impersonation to almost perfection. At 19, he made his first appearance in Shanghai and in a popular contest, won 270,000 votes from his admirers, thus becoming known as the "King of Actors" in China. In ancient China, singing and dancing went together, but after the Tang dynasty, dancing was abolished and only singing was featured by prominent actors and it is he who restored the long-forgotten dance and produced many plays with both songs and dances. He also won wide reputation in his dance impersonation of the "Tien Nu San Hua" (Heavenly Maiden Spreading Flowers") and the sword dance in "Pa Wang Pi Chi," (Chu Pa Wang's Farewell to his Mistress"').
At the age of 25, he was engaged by the Japanese Imperial Theatre and was heartily welcomed by all classes - this being the first time in the history of China that a Chinese actor appeared on a foreign stage. At the age of 28, he was engaged for a theatrical season in Hongkong, where the Governor of Hongkong was so well impressed that he persuaded him to make a trip to England and presented him a silver shield upon his departure from Hongkong, he has acted over four hundred plays, about one third of which are his own production. His wardrobe and ornaments are valued at $100,000.
Mr. Mei possesses a clear and penetrating voice and his appearance is gentle and dignified. He was a philanthropist and has on many occasions offered his service to charity. At a Peiping charity affair, his autographed photograph was put to auction and was purchased by a member of the Spanish Legation for $600. His leisure time was spent in the study of mechanics, electricity and science and his hobby was gardening and raising of pet birds. Lan-Fang Mei was a collector of old books of music and dancing and possesses excellent knowledge of painting. At a Japanese exhibition, his paintings were classed as special exhibits. At a farewell banquet given by the President of China to the American Minister, Dr. Paul Reinsch, the latter expressed the opinion that he should make a tour to America in order that Americans could learn more of Chinese art. He influenced by this suggestion and for the purpose of studying American theatrical art, he toured the United States in the spring of 1930 and gave performances in Washington and New York which were widely acclaimed by the American people.
Mr. Mei was given a degree of Doctor of Arts by an American University. Then he returned to China in the summer of the same year and visited the U.S.S.R. at the invitation of the Soviet Government in the spring of 1985 and gave performances at Moscow and Leningrad, for which he wen great admiration from Soviet artiste.