Hong Kong Xiqu Troupe - A New Cantonese Opera Saving Her Husband at the West River

Hong Kong Xiqu Troupe

A New Cantonese Opera Saving Her Husband at the West River

Scholar He Runlong and Han Yufeng betroth themselves at their first meeting as they feel they are destined to be husband and wife.  When the newlyweds take a stroll in the garden, they run into governor of the capital city Zhang Qian.  Zhang recognises He’s talent and invites him for a meeting at his residence.  When Runlong is away, the emperor’s brother-in-law Shi Chongying climbs over the wall and accosts Yufeng, only to be expelled by Yufeng and her maid Bingxin.  Shi complains to his father on returning home and frames Runlong which leads to the latter’s arrest.  Zhang Qian cannot bear a good man being wronged and secretly plans to save Runlong.  On the other hand, Yufeng mistakenly believes her husband is going to be executed and prepares a prayer altar for him.  When Yufeng and Bingxin pass by the Temple of the King of Hell, her indignation at the injustice of things prompts her to write a poem of accusation on the wall.  The King of Hell summons them for a hearing in the netherworld.  Yufeng chastises the King gravely, but when she is led to inspect the record of good-evil deeds, she finds out that Runlong is still alive. The King then orders the Head of Ghost Guards to teach Yufeng martial arts so she can save her husband at West River.  When the rescue mission is successfully done, she goes to the Shi residence to vent her grievances. There is a lot of fighting between her and the guards.  In the end, Shi Chongying is punished under the authority of the imperial sword, and Runlong and Yufeng are re-united.

Li Qiuyuan as He Runlong

Tse Hue-ying as Han Yufeng

Yuen Siu-fai as King Yan (King of Hell)

Liu Kwok-sum as Head of Ghost Guards

Ng Lap-hei as Shi Chongying

Leung Sum-yee as Bingxin

Shum Pak-chuen as Zhang Qian

Running time of each performance is approximately 3 hours including an intermission of 15 minutes.

Lyrics and dialogue with Chinese and English surtitles.

Information provided by the arts group.

Just as it may take ten years to hone the proverbial sword, since 2012, my husband Yun-hung and I have made a point to make a trip to Malaysia whenever time allows to consult Ms Choy Him-heong, a Cantonese Opera veteran actor in the dan role, as well as her sister Choy Tsui-hung, on matters of the art form.  We use the interview format where she would narrate orally plays from the older repertory, and we would make video recordings to be edited and compiled when we are back in Hong Kong.  We wasted not even a second of our meetings, conducting interviews and listening to her narrations inside sunlit bamboo theatres, in nearby neighbourhood eateries, or in quiet hotels rooms in the evening, as we eagerly assimilate valuable information to enhance our knowledge of the art form.  We would also try out the narrated contents on a makeshift stage for her critiquing, or, armed with camera and notepad, record a treasure trove of information in the hot and humid afternoons.  Later, during the reclusive days of the pandemic, I proofread and reconstructed the scripts, filled in the missing scenes and bits, and reminisced about this passionate and romantic journey of learning.

Saving Her Husband at the West River is part reconstructed from the traditional repertory and part newly written.  As to the traditional aspect, the scenes “Mourning the Living”, “Chastising King Yan”, “Reunion with His Wife at the West River” and “Wreaking Havoc at the Residence” follow more or less the original, while the newly written parts, namely “Encounter at the Temple” and “Disaster Strikes”, albeit adhering closely to the original ancient tone, are embellished with a fresh modern feel to make the old play content more accessible to the contemporary audience.  Yun-hung believes in putting the perpetuation of traditions before new development, which is why the highlight of the drama, “Chastising King Yan”, retains its original features, where a helpless woman like Han Yufeng, despite being outclassed in strength and status, shows immense courage which moves heaven and earth and finally succeeds in saving her husband.  Out of this trial and tribulation also comes the added accomplishment of expert martial arts so she can “wreak havoc” on her return to the human world and avenge herself with Shi Chongying and right the wrong.

During our rehearsals, Ms Choy could not be with us in Hong Kong due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, we had the fortune of having Yuen Siu-fai as artistic consultant, Ng Mei-ying for devising stylized movements, and Ko Yun-hung as artistic director to help with the reconstruction and rehearsal of the scenes from the revived versions.  All these have been crucial to the successful production of Saving Her Husband at the West River.

I feel encouraged by Yun-hung’s professional and familial expertise and my own academic background and creative avidity which have made it possible to reconstruct tradition and rejuvenate whatever is within our abilities.  I do hope that in the future, with Saving Her Husband at the West River as a starting point, we will be able to showcase our research accumulated over the years, breathe new life into tradition with modern concepts and launch a series of rejuvenated works rooted in tradition.

Dianna Tse Hue-ying

Artistic Advisor: Choy Him-heong, Yuen Siu-fai

Artistic Director, Music Designer and Leader: Ko Yun-hung

Playwright: Tse Hue-ying

Director: Choy Him-heong, Shi Jihua

Percussion Leader: Ko Yun-kuen

Stylised Movements Designer: Ng Mei-ying

Choreography: Chung Kit-sum

Lighting Designer: To Wing-sum

Stage Manager: Ding Yat-yuet

Set: Kwong Hing Stage Scene Production Company

Costume and Props: Ngai Sing Company

Programme Enquiries：2268 7325

Ticketing Enquiries：3761 6661

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.

Hong Kong Xiqu Troupe - A New Cantonese Opera Saving Her Husband at the West River

DATE

VENUE

PRICE

05.12.2022 (Mon) - 06.12.2022 (Tue)
19:30

Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre

$380 $300 $220 $140

BUY NOW

10.12.2022 (Sat)
19:30

Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall

$320, $260, $200, $140

BUY NOW

DATE

05.12.2022 (Mon) - 06.12.2022 (Tue)
19:30

VENUE

Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre

PRICE

$380 $300 $220 $140

BUY NOW

DATE

10.12.2022 (Sat)
19:30

VENUE

Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall

PRICE

$320, $260, $200, $140

BUY NOW

Tickets available from 4 November onwards at all URBTIX outlets, on internet, by mobile app My URBTIX (Android and iPhone versions) and telephone.

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.)

Smart Price

Save $9 per ticket for booking make through the URBTIX website, mobile app or credit card telephone booking.

Credit Card Telephone Booking：3166 1288

Internet Booking：www.urbtix.hk