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13
Thu
Dec
2017
19:30
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14
Thu
Dec
2017
19:30 |
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$380, $300, $220, $120 |
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Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre |
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Chinese Opera
Four Generations on Stage - Performance of Cantonese Opera Excerpts
Tickets for all performances are SOLD OUT. Thank you for your support.
13.12.2017
Love Probe from The Story of the Burning Incense
Former brothel worker Zhao Guiying meets Wang Kui at Temple of the God of the Sea when she takes shelter from the snowstorm. Her pity on Wang turns into love and the two get married. Guiying helps Wang attend the imperial exam at the capital city. The husband and wife say goodbye to each other and return to Temple of the God of the Sea to burn incense and vow. Wang Kui makes a promise in front of deities that he will stay true to his wife even if he succeeds in the future. If he is unfaithful, he will be punished by the heavens. Yet, when Wang Kui becomes a noble person, he forgets everything he said in his vows; he no longer remembers about honouring his principles; he is obsessed with fame and fortunes and divorces Guiying. He remarries and lives in the bride’s family – the House of the Prime Minister. Before she dies, Guiying finds no way to vent the unjust treatment she receives. She has no choice but to die and sue in the underworld. The Judge approves the request of Guiying and lets her return to the mortal world to probe Wang Kui. At the House of the First Scholar, Wang Kui forgets about his wife and their love; the begging of Guiying leads to nowhere. Her departed spirit appears and the Judge takes Wang’s life.
Chan Chak-lui as Wang Kui
Juliana Kwan as Zhao Guiying
Jim Ho-fung as The Judge
Interrogating the Red Maid from Romance of the West Chamber
Suspecting her daughter Yingying has secretly fallen in love with Zhang Junrui, Madam Cui interrogates Hongniang. Hongniang recalls how the two met at the West Chamber. She also complains to Madam Cui for wrongly breaking the engagement she promised between Yingying and the scholar Zhang, who managed to rescue them from bandits. Hongniang also proposes that Madam Cui must help them marry. Knowing that nothing can turn back the clock, Madam Cui could only agree to the suggestion of Hongniang and betroth Yingying to Zhang Junrui.
Chan Ho-kau as Hongniang
Yau Sing-po as Madam Cui
Retrieving the Head at Gao Ping Guan (Formulaic Paichang play in ancient vocal style)
It is the end of the Five Dynasties. Gao Xingzhou, the Prince of Donglu is defending Gaoping Guan. He has an occasional dream and sees a red-faced man Zhao Kuangyin, who is coming to borrow his head to accomplish a major goal. Gao Xingzhou examines the sky and sees the Star of the Fire Dragon chasing the Star of the White Tiger. The sign confirms Zhao is the rightful emperor and Gao’s life is about to end. Knowing that Zhao will become a significant figure, Gao kills himself to facilitate the success of Zhao Kuangyin.
Lee Lung as Zhao Kuangyin
Yuen Siu-fai as Gao Xingzhou
The Big Trial from The Lady's Sash
Zhao Shizhen is the garrison general of Huaiyang; his wife Lin Ruxiang used to work in a brothel. Lin’s adoptive mother Sanniang lives in with the couple after they married. Ruxiang hires the scholar Lu Shike as a teacher for her son; she often praises Shike for being knowledgeable. Shizhen is jealous. One day, the teacher catches a cold after a few drinks. Xilang brings a blanket to keep his teacher warm, but accidentally leaves the lady’s sash used to tie the blanket by the bed side in the guest room. Shizhen visits the teacher and becomes furious when he sees the lady’s sash, as he thinks his wife is being unfaithful. He forces his wife to flirt with Shike at the guest room during the middle of the night, and Shike misinterprets the midnight visit as a flirtatious behaviour. He leaves a note and leaves the guest room through the window. Shizhen apologises to Ruxiang after seeing the note. He carries the sash with him as a memento. The next day, Shizhen responds to a military action, which is to behead the owner of a deceiving shop. Shizhen ties up the body with the sash and the case constable mistakes the victim as Shizhen. The county magistrate investigates into the murder. Zhao Qin, a commanding officer, pays a condolence visit to Ruxiang. The county magistrate mistakes Ruxiang and Zhao Qin as an adulterous couple who plotted to kill Zhen. The two are locked up in jail. Shike ranks first in the imperial exam and takes Huaiyang as a pit stop. He meets Sanniang, who has brought Xilang with her to court and asks for a trial. He remembers Ruxiang knocking at his guest room door during the middle of the night and firmly believes Ruxiang is immoral. Shike sentences Ruxiang to death.
Loong Koon-tin as Lu Shike
Chan Wing-yee as Lin Ruxiang
Wan Yuk-yu as Zhao Qin
Lo Lai-see as Ru Sanniang
Kwok Chun-sing as Zhao Xilang
Ng Lap-hei as Yang Xiu
Szeto Chui-ying as Chai Quan
Plunging into the River with a Rock from The Moon Pavilion
Ruilan, the daughter of government minister Wang Zhen, loses connection with her mother in the chaos of war. She meets Jiang Shilong, a scholar, in the countryside and they help each other out during difficult times. They get engaged. Ruilian, the younger sister of Shilong, meets Madam Wang and becomes her adopted daughter. Shilong brings Ruilan to Zhenyang to seek refuge with his sworn brother Qin Xingfu, who plays matchmaker and marries the couple. The couple takes temporary shelter at the West Tower. Wang Zhen arrives at the house of Qin and stays at the East Tower. He runs into Ruilan and is furious to find out his daughter is married without a proper matchmaker. He breaks the couple apart. Shilong is saddened and plunges into the river with a rock to kill himself. He is rescued by Madam Bian, the elder sister of Madam Wang. He is taken as her adopted son and changes his name to Bian Shuangqing.
Yuen Siu-fai as Jiang Shilong
Chan Ho-kau as Wang Ruilan
Yau Sing-po as Wang Zhen
Lai Yiu-wai as Qin Xingfu
Lo Lai-see as Madam Bian
Kwok Chun-sing as Bian Liutang
Cheung Kit-ha as Liu’er
14.12.2017
Fantasy of Heaven of Parting Sorrow from The Dream of the Red Mansion
Lin Daiyu is an orphan with no one to rely on. As she arrives at the Grand View Garden, she falls in love with Jia Baoyu at first sight. However, the romance between Baoyu and Daiyu is destined to be difficult. Wang Xifeng plays a swapping trick and betroths Baochai to Baoyu. Daiyu is shocked to hear the news. Her heart is shattered. She burns off the manuscripts and handkerchiefs on which poems are written. She passes away with regrets. Baoyu is saddened by the departure of Daiyu and pays respect in front of her shrine in tears. Confused and muddled, he arrives at the surreal realm and reunites with Daiyu, who has now become Consort Xiaoxiang. Daiyu recalls how she misses Baoyu after she dies. When Baoyu wakes up, he finally realises he is parted with Daiyu between life and death. He is completely disheartened. He leaves his magical jade behind and walks out from this life.
Chan Chak-lui as Jia Baoyu
Juliana Kwan as Lin Daiyu
Interrogating the Red Maid from Romance of the West Chamber
Please refer to the above for cast and synopsis.
Retrieving the Head at Gao Ping Guan (Formulaic Paichang play in ancient vocal style)
Please refer to the above for cast and synopsis.
Grudges and Hatred from The Red Tassel
During the Spring and Autumn period, Tang Jiao, a general of the State of Chu, goes to war with his king and returns with victory. Tang Jiao and the king’s brother-in-law Xiang Xiang are both in love with Yuji. Xiang Xiang plays with politics, resulting in Yuji being chosen as a concubine of the King of Chu. Yuji has no choice but to decline the marriage proposal of Tang Jiao. The King of Chu hosts a banquet for his ministers at Jiantai. Lost in love, Tang Jiao drinks to drown his sorrow. The candles are suddenly blown off by strong wind. Tang Jiao is angry for the heartlessness of Yuji. He takes out his dagger and intends to kill Yuji. His dagger, however, mistakenly lands onto Consort Xiang sitting next to Yuji. Consort Xiang removes the tassel on his hat and reports his deed to the King of Chu. Thinking that the transgressor is drunk and has no malicious intentions, the king orders all those wearing hats with red tassels to take them off before the candles are lit again. Thus, the banquet comes to be called the “Tasselless Gathering”. The State of Jin invades at the border and war arrives at the State of Chu. It is chaotic at the battlefield and everyone drifts apart. Fooled by their destiny, Tang Jiao and Yuji meet at the battlefield. After the explanation by Yucheng, the elder brother of Yuji, Tang Jiao finally understands he has taken Yuji wrongly. Although there are love and grudges between the two, Tang Jiao spares no effort in rescuing her.
Loong Koon-tin as Tang Jiao
Chan Wing-yee as Xu Yuji
Kwok Chun-sing as Xu Yucheng
Wan Yuk-yu as Xiang Xiang
Lai Yiu-wai as King of Chu
Tong Yuen-ying as Magical Phoenix Wang Gu
Plunging into the River with a Rock from The Moon Pavilion
Please refer to the above for cast and synopsis.
Running time of each performance is approximately 4 hours including an intermission of 15 minutes.
TICKETING
DATE VENUE PRICE 13.12.2017 (Wed) - 14.12.2017 (Thu)
19:30
19:30
Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre
$380, $300, $220, $120
DATE13.12.2017 (Wed) - 14.12.2017 (Thu)
19:30
19:30
PRICE
$380, $300, $220, $120