Premiered in 2005 by Elmond’s Workshop, this Cantonese Opera with a mythical theme about human goodness has had two reruns by popular demand among Cantonese Opera fans.
The mythical world is an embodiment of almost all possible imaginings. It is therefore an enduring theme in traditional Chinese opera. In this restaged production, there will be additional celestials to the dramatis personae, such as the Eight Immortals, the Sun God, the Moon Goddess, the Literary and Martial Gods, God of Fortune, Goddess of Mercy, the Golden Boy, the Jade Girl, the four sagacious hermits of the Fisherman, the Woodcutter, the Farmer and the Scholar, the creatures in the underwater Dragon Palace, the four Demons and the Gods of Wind, Thunder, Rain and Lightning, thus creating a visually magnificent tableau of Buddhist and Taoist super beings.
The Cosmic Mirror is a treasure with deep allegorical significance. The Celestial King of Beiming (the Northernmost Seas), who has achieved a thousand years of magic cultivation, has the material gratification of the mortal world at his fingertips. He questions the beneficent Buddhist spirit of universal salvation. Goddess of Mercy, therefore, decrees that he should be demoted to the mortal world, but at the same time sending other celestials such as the Eight Immortals and God Skanda to assist him.
Humankind is invariably concerned with their own pleasures and negligent of mercy and love for others. The Celestial King of Beiming undergoes extreme poverty and sufferings before he finally succeeds as an immortal. But on the day, he, as a mortal called Du Shuancheng, is named Top Scholar in the civil service examination, news arrives that the region north of the Yangtze River is flooded. The emperor orders him to find the Cosmic Mirror for disaster relief.
In his search for the magical mirror, his dear ones and good friends all lay down their lives for his cause.
Will the many trials and tribulations, a microcosm of all the joys and sorrows of human experience, sublimate into the noble spirit of altruism? This is the theme that this play purports to explore.
The playwright believes in the pursuit of this noble spirit in life and is therefore sharing it with the audience.
Yau Sing-po as Lu Dongbin / The Drunken Taoist Priest
Lee Lung (10/3, 24/4) as The Celestial King of Beiming / Du Shuangcheng / Mingxin the State Preceptor
Wan Fei-yin as Du Shuangyi / Goddess of Fragrance
Leung Siu-ming (11/3, 23/4) as The Celestial King of Beiming / Du Shuangcheng / Mingxin the State Preceptor
Yue Ling-loong as Yuexi / Fairy of the Heavenly Pond
Lui Hung-kwong as Han Zhongli
Wan Yuk-yu as Tieguai Li
Chong Yuen-sin as The Moon Goddess
Pui Chun-hin as The Sun God
Hong Hai as God Skanda / Luo Qi
Lan Tin-yau as Han Xiangzi
Hong Wah as Dragon Aunt
Yam Dan-fung as Young Student / Dong Yong
Ji Ling-chau as Young Fisherwoman / Seventh Sister
Chan Chak-lui as Cao Guojiu
Mitche Choi as Lan Caihe / The Woodcutter
Yi Dianhong (10-11/3) as Lord of Promotion
Kim Lun as God of Fortune
Mo Huamin as Samghārāma / Feng Biao
Vong Seng-pan as Mo Liqing / The Farmer
Ng Lap-hei (23-24/4) as Lord of Promotion
Liang Xiaofei as Zhang Guolao / Old Eunuch
Lin Xingling as He Xiangu / Old Woman Selling Sesame Flat Bread
Angel Leung as Goddess of Mercy
Leung Fei-tung as Fairy Offering the Lantern / Yuxun the State Preceptor / Purple Lotus
Jackie Leung as Fairy Offering Flowers / Red Lotus (10-11/3), The Jade Girl (23-24/4)
Xie Xiaoyu (23-24/4) as Fairy Offering Flowers / Red Lotus
Ng Kwok-wa as Mo Lihai
Kwong Tsz-wong as Mo Lihong
Chu Siu-yat as Mo Lishou
Ng Sin-hang as The Golden Boy
Kwong Chengjun as Black Wind Demon
Liang Zhenwen as The Tiger Vanquisher / Black Wind Demon
Deng Haipeng as The Turtle Marshal / Black Wind Demons
Luo Yan as Relative / God of Wind
Chen Jingru as God of Thunder
Chan Nga-yin as God of Rain
Deng Huishu as Goddess of Lightning
Kali Lam (10-11/3) as The Jade Girl
Running time of each performance is approximately 4 hours including an intermission of 15 minutes.
Information provided by the arts group
Please refer to Chinese version.
Tickets available from 23 February onwards at URBTIX outlets, on internet, mobile app and credit card telephone booking.
Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. (Limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
Please visit www.urbtix.hk for details of opening hours of URBTIX outlets.
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Credit Card Telephone Booking:2111 5999
Internet Booking:www.urbtix.hk
The presenter reserves the right to change the programme and substitute artists.
The programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.