In 1945, Yuan Xuefen and Fan Ruijuan starred in "The Story of Butterfly Lovers".
In 1951, the East China Yue Opera Experimental Troupe rearranged the play, adding "Butterfly" at the end. The script was dictated by Yuan Xuefen and Fan Ruijuan, written by Xu Jin and others, directed by Huang Sha, and composed by Chen Jie and Xue Yan. Set design by Xing Xi and Su Shifeng. Fan Ruijuan plays Liang Shanbo, Fu Quanxiang plays Zhu Yingtai, Zhang Guifeng plays Zhu Gongyuan, Lu Ruiying plays Yin Xin, Wei Xiaoyun plays Sijiu, and Jin Yanfang plays the wife of the teacher.
In 1952, the play participated in the First National Opera Observation and Performance Conference and won the script award, first prize for performance, music composition award, and stage design award. The leading actors Fan Ruijuan and Fu Quanxiang won the first prize for actors, and Zhang Guifeng won the first prize for actors. The second prize for Actor and Lu Ruiying won the third prize for Actor.
In 1953, this play was produced by the Shanghai Film Studio and became the first domestic color opera art film. It was written by Xu Jin and Sang Hu, directed by Sang Hu and Huang Sha, and starred by Yuan Xuefen and Fan Ruijuan.
The Sichuan Opera "The Story of Willow Shade" also participated in the performance of the First National Opera Observation and Performance Conference in 1952 and won the script award. Chen Shufang won the first prize for actors, and Yuan Yukun and Liu Chengji won the second prize for actors.
There are many different versions of the story of Butterfly Lovers in Peking Opera. Among them, "The Story of the Willow Shade" adapted by Ma Yanxiang based on Sichuan Opera and Cheng Yanqiu's masterpiece "Yingtai Resistance to Marriage" in his later years are the most widely circulated.
The aria of "The Story of Willow Shade" was designed by Wang Yaoqing and premiered in 1953 by Du Jinfang and Ye Shenglan. The whole play is divided into 10 scenes. The important scenes include "Farewell to Yingtai", "Sworn Worship in Liuyin", "Conversation in the Library", "Send Off to Shanbo", "Missing Brother Yingtai", "Visiting Friends in Zhuangzhuang" and "Grave Ceremony". butterfly". The biggest feature of this play is the lyrics, which are elegant, gorgeous, beautiful and timeless. Many sentences break the traditional seven-character and cross-line sentences of Peking Opera, giving people a fresh and refined artistic beauty. At the same time, the singing design is very exquisite, no matter the choice of tunes , or a transformation of the board style, which not only maintains the traditional charm, but also seeks new changes. It is recognized as a masterpiece of innovative opera in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In 1954, Peking Opera master Cheng Yanqiu compiled an immortal Cheng-style drama "Anti-Marriage in Yingtai" with reference to related repertoires of other opera types. This drama was the only major drama written and performed by Cheng Yanqiu after liberation. It is also the last work in his life. The plot of this play remains unchanged, including scenes such as "Farewell", "Sworn Worship", "Library", "Farewell", "Surprise Recruitment", "Rejection of Marriage", "Grave Sacrifice", "Butterfly Transformation", etc. The front structure is relatively loose, so it starts with "Jingpin". There are many groundbreaking creations in the lyrics and vocals of this play. Judging from the lyrics: "I hope that my father will cancel the wedding and follow my wish, so that I can marry Liang Jun. You are my dear old friend", "But why do you insist on marrying my daughter to a stranger whom I don't know"... Such sentences, which are almost equivalent to prose poems, have been "packed" into the singing by the master, and they fit perfectly and are deeply touching. People cannot help but admire the master's skill. Li Shiji once performed this play as a tribute to the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Xiang Opera’s traditional play "Shanboyingtai" was written by Shao Jianghai and originated from the "Jin Ge" sung version. The script retains the characteristics of "Jin Ge", which is sung more in white and less in plain language, and is easy to read. Almost every scene has a large solo or duet. Among them, "Twenty-Four Prayers for the Crying Spirits of Yingtai" is the most outstanding, with more than 100 lines of sentimental lyrics. The tunes use all the crying tunes of Xiang Opera. Each prayer is closely connected and harmonious, forming a set of singing tunes similar to the couplets of tunes. In "An Tong Buys Vegetables and Feasts on Shanbo" and "Twelve Plate Banquets on the Roof", everything from the dish names and recipes to common practices and proverbs come from the unique folk customs of southern Fujian. As soon as "asking for medicine" came out, Shan Bo fell seriously ill because of his lovesickness, so Yingtai cut his black silk stockings and trouser belts as gifts, which is also a custom in southern Fujian. The whole plot of the play is different from other dramas. For example, Yingtai has no father but has mother Zhang, and Ma Jun is also studying in Hangzhou. There is no "eighteen-year-old farewell", but a metaphor of spring outing and sightseeing. The play "Yingtai Tomb Sacrifice" focuses on showing Yingtai mourning and crying. There are also plots such as "Shan Boying travels to Taiwan to witness his predecessor" and "Resurrection and gives birth to a son". The more distinctive one is "Shan Bo loves to cry for love", in which Liang Shan Bo pours out his love, hate, love, and love. In 1978, Chen Degen compiled "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" based on Shao Jiang Haiben, Taiwanese opera and Yue opera performances. It was performed by Zhangzhou Xiang Opera Troupe and was performed in one theater for 300 times. In 2008, Qian Tianzhen and Hong Cailian played Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo respectively, and won the title of Outstanding Young Actor in Fujian Province.
In addition, almost all major and minor operas such as Henan Opera and Ping Opera have complete versions of the play. Excerpts of opera are handed down from generation to generation.