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The Young Academy Cantonese Opera Troupe will perform a new opera production, "Mothers & Sons", in March as part of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Young Cantonese Opera Artists Series".
The new Cantonese opera by Cheung Ping-kuen, Ng Lut-kwong and Chow Sze-sum is directed by Hu Zhi-feng. The performers include Wang Zhiliang, Huang Hanqin, Yam Dan-fung, Tsz Ling-chau, Lin Yingshi, Chan Kei-ting, etc.
The story is about brothers Ding Jiaxing and Ding Jiawang and their sons, Wenlong and Wenfeng respectively, who were born on the same day. At the babies' "full month" banquet, their maternal uncle, Wang Guoxian, who claims himself to be a perspicacious fortune teller, declares that Wenfeng will become a top scholar one day, and that Wenlong will be a pauper bringing his father ruin. On hearing this, Jiaxing wants to give up his son Wenlong, but his wife, nˆme Liu, adamantly rejects the idea. Jiaxing then leaves home to establish a business elsewhere in order to avoid any disasters that might befall him.
Back home, the two boys grow up together. They study under the same tutor at home. One day, they quarrel when at play, and Wenfeng's mother takes sides with her son, scolds Wenlong and dismisses the tutor. She even goes to such lengths as to demand that the two families should no longer live under the same roof. Madam Liu cannot but take Wenlong away with her. With no one to turn to, she seeks refuge under the care of a retired teacher, Mr Li. There, under Mr Li's sagacious eye, Wenlong grows up to be a well-read young man and wins laurels at the national civil examination. On the other hand, Wenfeng, who has been spoiled by his mother, becomes a gambler and wastes his family fortune away. His father and mother have to beg for a living, and he joins the bandits in the mountains. One day, he robs a passer-by, who turns out to be none other than his maternal uncle, Wang Guoxian. Also happening to come by is Wenlong, who is returning home as a newly appointed courtier. Wenlong castigates Wenfeng for his wrongdoing, and finally succeeds in persuading him to change for good.
The new Cantonese opera "Mothers & Sons" by the Young Academy Cantonese Opera Troupe will be staged at 7.30pm on March 9 (Friday) at the Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, and on March 24 (Saturday) at the Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre. Tickets priced at $220, $160 and $100 are now available at all 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 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/00000371.html. For ticketing enquiries, please call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For Internet bookings, please visit www.urbtix.hk.
Free talks will be held in Cantonese. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Director's Talk (conducted in Cantonese)
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March 10 (Saturday), 2.30pm
AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Speakers: Hu Zhi-feng, Cheung Ping-kuen, Hong Hai
Playwright's Talk (conducted in Cantonese)
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March 27 (Tuesday), 7.30pm
AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Speakers: Ng Lut-kwong, Chow Sze-sum, Hong Hai
Ends/Friday, January 27, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:11
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