四進(jin)士是(shi)京(jing)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)傳統劇(ju)(ju)(ju)目。也在秦腔,蒲(pu)劇(ju)(ju)(ju),豫劇(ju)(ju)(ju),越劇(ju)(ju)(ju),湘(xiang)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)中(zhong)普遍傳唱。另(ling) 一個名(ming)《節義廉(lian)明》。見鼓詞《紫金鐲(zhuo)》。周信(xin)(xin)芳(fang)、馬連良(liang)均以(yi)此劇(ju)(ju)(ju)享名(ming),而風格不同。川劇(ju)(ju)(ju)、漢(han)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)、徽劇(ju)(ju)(ju)滇劇(ju)(ju)(ju)、同州梆(bang)子、晉劇(ju)(ju)(ju)都有此劇(ju)(ju)(ju)目。湘(xiang)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)有《打痞》、《公堂(tang)(tang)(tang)》,豫劇(ju)(ju)(ju)、河北梆(bang)子都有《宋(song)(song)士杰告狀》。明朝嘉(jia)靖(jing)年間,新(xin)科(ke)進(jin)士毛朋(peng)、田(tian)倫(lun)、顧(gu)讀,劉(liu)題四人出京(jing)為官,當(dang)時(shi)(shi)嚴嵩專權,同仇敵愾。相約飲酒中(zhong),相互(hu)勉勵,赴任(ren)后不違法瀆職,以(yi)報(bao)海瑞(rui)舉薦(jian)之功(gong)德(de)。當(dang)時(shi)(shi)河南上(shang)(shang)蔡縣姚廷春(chun)的(de)(de)妻子田(tian)氏(shi)圖謀財產,毒死(si)丈夫的(de)(de)弟弟姚廷美,又串通(tong)弟媳楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)素貞(zhen)之兄楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)青(qing),又把楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)素貞(zhen)轉賣給布商楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)春(chun)為妻。楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)春(chun)聽素貞(zhen)哭訴,可憐(lian)她(ta)的(de)(de)遭遇,撕毀身契,代她(ta)告狀。正遇毛朋(peng)私訪(fang),代寫狀紙,囑去(qu)信(xin)(xin)陽(yang)州申訴。楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)素貞(zhen)與楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)春(chun)失(shi)散,遇到(dao)惡棍,被革職的(de)(de)書吏宋(song)(song)世杰所救,認為義女,攜至州衙告狀。田(tian)氏(shi)逼她(ta)的(de)(de)弟弟巡按(an)(an)田(tian)倫(lun)代通(tong)關節。田(tian)給信(xin)(xin)陽(yang)知州顧(gu)讀寫了求(qiu)情(qing)信(xin)(xin)并送上(shang)(shang)三百兩(liang)賄賂的(de)(de)白銀。田(tian)的(de)(de)下(xia)書差(cha)役(yi),恰好投(tou)宿在宋(song)(song)士杰店中(zhong),宋(song)(song)偷看信(xin)(xin)文(wen),發現與義女楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)素貞(zhen)事有關。顧(gu)讀讀到(dao)書信(xin)(xin)后,徇(xun)情(qing)釋(shi)放(fang)了被告,押禁了楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)素貞(zhen)時(shi)(shi),宋(song)(song)上(shang)(shang)堂(tang)(tang)(tang)質問,卻被杖(zhang)責(ze)后轟出堂(tang)(tang)(tang)來。遇到(dao)田(tian)春(chun),楊(yang)(yang)(yang)(yang)春(chun)又叫去(qu)巡按(an)(an)毛朋(peng)處上(shang)(shang)告,毛朋(peng)接狀,宋(song)(song)士杰作(zuo)證, 田(tian)、顧(gu)、劉(liu)均以(yi)違法失(shi)職問罪(zui)(zui),判田(tian)氏(shi)夫婦死(si)罪(zui)(zui),為素貞(zhen)申明冤情(qing)。
此劇情節曲(qu)折,感人至深(shen)。對封建官(guan)場貪污(wu)受賄、口是(shi)心非、草(cao)菅人命、官(guan)場腐(fu)敗(bai)的黑暗現象作了(le)有力的揭(jie)露和(he)抨(peng)擊。人物性(xing)格鮮(xian)明生動,一直是(shi)受觀眾歡迎的劇目(mu)。表演上著重念白和(he)做工(gong),也(ye)有重要(yao)的唱段(duan)。周(zhou)信芳(fang)在“盜書”一場做工(gong)細膩,三次公堂上的念白,各有不(bu)同的處理,被評論界作為(wei)表演范例。這個戲劇主要(yao)高度(du)贊揚和(he)宣傳了(le)宋士杰不(bu)畏強暴,剛正不(bu)阿(a),路見不(bu)平,拔刀相助的義舉。
該(gai)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)最初為(wei)四(si)(si)本連(lian)(lian)臺(tai)本戲(xi),主角(jiao)是毛朋和楊(yang)素貞(zhen),經過不(bu)斷(duan)的演(yan)(yan)出(chu)(chu),融化為(wei)一本戲(xi)。也稱(cheng)為(wei)《宋(song)士杰》。宋(song)士杰成(cheng)為(wei)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)中(zhong)主角(jiao),前(qian)面的戲(xi)也逐漸省略,—般(ban)只從柳林寫狀演(yan)(yan)起。早(zao)期,雷喜(xi)福、王鴻(hong)壽、潘月(yue)樵等(deng)均(jun)曾(ceng)多次演(yan)(yan)出(chu)(chu)該(gai)劇(ju)(ju)(ju),周(zhou)信(xin)芳于1912年(nian)4月(yue)2日曾(ceng)在(zai)(zai)迎貴(gui)仙茶(cha)園(yuan)演(yan)(yan)出(chu)(chu)全部(bu)《四(si)(si)進(jin)士》,將久已不(bu)演(yan)(yan)的前(qian)面部(bu)分演(yan)(yan)全。合(he)作者有四(si)(si)盞燈、小(xiao)紅燈等(deng)。自二十(shi)世(shi)紀二十(shi)年(nian)代(dai)以(yi)后(hou),成(cheng)為(wei)周(zhou)信(xin)芳、馬連(lian)(lian)良的代(dai)表(biao)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)目(mu)。兩人(ren)演(yan)(yan)來風格(ge)各異,各有所(suo)長。1929年(nian)12月(yue)6日,大舞臺(tai)演(yan)(yan)出(chu)(chu)由(you)馬連(lian)(lian)良主演(yan)(yan)的《四(si)(si)進(jin)士》,另(ling)由(you)胡碧蘭飾(shi)楊(yang)素貞(zhen),曹連(lian)(lian)孝飾(shi)毛朋,姜妙(miao)香飾(shi)田倫,馬富祿飾(shi)萬氏。同(tong)月(yue)26日,天蟾(chan)舞臺(tai)演(yan)(yan)出(chu)(chu)由(you)周(zhou)信(xin)芳主演(yan)(yan)的《四(si)(si)進(jin)士》,同(tong)臺(tai)由(you)趙如泉飾(shi)毛朋,小(xiao)楊(yang)月(yue)樓飾(shi)萬氏、王蕓(yun)芳飾(shi)楊(yang)素貞(zhen),劉奎官(guan)飾(shi)顧讀,陳(chen)鶴峰飾(shi)楊(yang)春。上海(hai)觀(guan)眾得以(yi)在(zai)(zai)一月(yue)之(zhi)內先(xian)后(hou)欣(xin)賞馬、麒(qi)兩派(pai)的《四(si)(si)進(jin)士》,稱(cheng)一時之(zhi)盛。1956年(nian)3月(yue),上海(hai)電影制片廠將此(ci)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)攝成(cheng)彩(cai)色戲(xi)曲(qu)藝術片,片名《宋(song)士杰》,周(zhou)信(xin)芳主演(yan)(yan)。同(tong)年(nian)10月(yue),周(zhou)信(xin)芳率上海(hai)京劇(ju)(ju)(ju)院赴蘇(su)聯訪(fang)問(wen),演(yan)(yan)出(chu)(chu)了此(ci)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)。得到世(shi)界(jie)各地戲(xi)劇(ju)(ju)(ju)愛好者的好評。