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The Hung Ka Po Cantonese Opera Troupe will perform three traditional Cantonese operas, namely "The Marriage of the Top Scholar", "Romance at the Peach Blossom Lakeside" and "The Impetuous Generals", in March. Highlights include comic female roles in all three works, to be performed by actor Chan Hung-chun.
"The Marriage of the Top Scholar" centres on Yu Fengsheng, who adores courtesan Hua Yanhong and promises to marry her once he has passed the imperial examination. Yu gives her a golden fan as a keepsake, and the two promise to spend the rest of their lives together.
After coming first at the highest level of the imperial examination, Yu returns home in glory. However, when his mother, Sijie, learns about his relationship with Hua, he is harshly scolded. Sijie returns the keepsake to break off the engagement. Hua is so grieved by the thought that Yu has betrayed her, she decides to become a nun. Seeing how lovesick Yu is, Sijie goes to a nunnery to pray for him. There she catches sight of a poem written on the wall. Admiring the poet for her talent, Sijie decides to marry Yu to her and asks the emperor for permission. Yu is overjoyed to find that the poet is none other than Hua. Details of the performance are set out below:
Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
March 20 (Thursday)
7.30pm
Tickets: $100, $160, $220 and $280
In "Romance at the Peach Blossom Lakeside", Cailuan is of imperial descent but has a wild personality. Her elder sister, Danfeng, is talented in both literature and the martial arts. Their identities are exchanged so Danfeng can be made crown princess. Comically, Danfeng and Cailuan then fall in love with Jin and the empress' nephew respectively.
After much confusion and misunderstanding, Danfeng threatens to commit suicide when she feels betrayed by Jin. Eventually they clear up the misunderstanding and forget all their past grudges. Jin ends up marrying Danfeng and Cailuan marries the nephew of the empress. Details are as follows:
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
March 21 (Friday)
7.30pm
Tickets: $100, $160, $200 and $260
In "The Impetuous Generals", Wen Cuijun is a lady from the state of Chu. Her father is falsely imprisoned on the strength of a groundless accusation so she escapes to the state of Qi and seeks protection from government official Xiao Ming. Liu Xiaotian and his cousin Chou Shangyi both adore Wen, while Yue E, the daughter of Xiao, loves Xiaotian.
The state of Chu and Qi wage war against each other at the Mid-autumn Festival. Liu shows his love for Wen. Yue E still loves Liu but he refuses to reciprocate, causing Yue E to become drunk. Liu exits in haste, leaving a paper fan behind. The drunken Yue E spends the night with Luo Wenlong of the state of Chu, mistaking him for Liu. Wen hears of this and decides she hates Liu. Liu loses the battle to Luo. Wen condemns Liu's disloyalty. Eventually Luo discovers the misunderstanding and admits having an affair with Yue E. Wen and Liu make up and are reunited.
Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre
March 22 (Saturday)
7.30pm
Tickets: $100, $160 and $220
The cast for the performances includes Lung Koon-tin, Wan Fei-yin, Chan Hung-chun, Lui Hung-kwong, Cheng Wing-mui, Hong Hai (March 20 performance only) and Lai Yiu-wai (March 21 and 22 performances only).
"Comic Male in Transvestite Role" by the Hung Ka Po Cantonese Opera Troupe is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by telephone credit card booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. (Limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients are available on a first come, first served basis.)
A meet-the-artists session (conducted in Cantonese) will be held at 3.45pm on March 21 (Friday) at the Lecture Hall of Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Speakers will include Lung Koon-tin, Wan Fei-yin and Chan Hung-chun. Admission is free with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/program_462.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and telephone credit card bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Thursday, February 6, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:01
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