Ma Ji (Ma Shuhuai), right, a renowned crosstalk comedian master best known for his mastery of puns and satirical dialogues with other performers, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006 in Beijing of a heart attack. He was 72.
He learned the traditional performing art of 'Xiangsheng', or 'crosstalk', established as an independent art form in the late Qing Dynasty, from the prestigious Xiangsheng performer Hou Baolin when he was a child. The humorous and highly satirical talking performance is still popular nowadays in Beijing, Tianjin and other regions in northern China.
I remember the time when he came to Singapore in 1992 with a fellow Beijing partner Zhao Yuan, to perform in a talkshow, "Xiao yi xiao, Shao yi shao", and it became very popular.
Lam, a friend of mine attended Ma Ji's talk in Xingshan during that period which saw the master raising concern about declining interest amongst youngsters in 'xiangsheng' performing art. He left a caligraphic art work upon request by a student.
"I the one who help him carry the paper. Now I think that paper worth many money" said Lam, relating his personal experience of meeting the master.
In memory of Master Ma.
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