The acclaimed Cantonese opera stars of the Major Phoenix Chinese Opera will perform a newly written work entitled "Fiend Battle" in March. The play, which is written by Li Kim-hung, won the Cantonese Opera Development Fund's "Best Script of New Cantonese Opera Play Scriptwriting Competition" in 2016.

     "Fiend Battle" centres on Peach Blossom, a floral immortal who is destined to be a lover of Zhou Qian but is "killed" by Turtle Demon who also admires her beauty. Zhou and his mentor Fire Dragon know Peach Blossom has been reincarnated as a mortal named Ren Taohua. He descends to the mortal world and transforms himself into a fortune teller to search for her and catch Turtle Demon. Plum Blossom, the sister of Peach Blossom, seeks to avenge her sister. She descends to teach Taohua the skills of an immortal. Turtle Demon captures Zhou and transforms into him, then forces Taohua to marry him. Taohua calculates that the wedding day is the "Three Curses" - curses relating to heaven, earth, and happiness. With the help of other fellow floral immortals she succeeds in breaking the "Three Curses" and rescues Zhou. Fire Dragon arrests Turtle Demon and brings him back to the heavenly court. The lovers reunite happily.

     The performers in "Fiend Battle" include Loong Koon-tin, Wong Chiu-kwan, Yuen Siu-fai, Chan Ka-ming, Wan Yuk-yu and Lui Hung-kwong.

     "Fiend Battle" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It will be staged at 7.30pm on March 22 and 23 (Wednesday and Thursday) at the Auditorium of Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets priced at $100, $160, $220 and $280 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_158.html.

     A pre-performance talk and a post-performance talk (in Cantonese) will be held respectively at 7.30pm on March 14 (Tuesday) at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre and at 2.30pm on April 2 (Sunday) at Function Room, 4/F, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing. Speakers include Loong Koon-tin, Wong Chiu-kwan and Li Kim-hung. Admission is free. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ends/Monday, January 23, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:00

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