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Renowned Chinese theatre director Li Liuyi and a cast that brings together National Level actors from Beijing People's Art Theatre and the National Theatre of China, will bring the world première of his version of "Spring in a Small Town" to Hong Kong audiences in April. This is Li's stage adaptation of the classic film of the same title, and fringe events will include film screenings and a talk to be held in March.
Adapted from a short play by Li Tianji, the film "Spring in a Small Town" was made in 1948 by Fei Mu and was voted number one on the list of "Best 100 Chinese Motion Pictures" by the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2005. It has long been regarded as the most representative and influential work of China's film industry, and was remade in 2001 by Tian Zhuangzhuang. A stage production was made possible when Barbara Fei, the renowned vocalist and daughter of Fei Mu, gave Li the valuable screenplay manuscript and related materials used by her father.
The story takes place in a small, run-down town in the post-war era. It is early spring, and a chill is still in the air. A young woman, Zhou Yuwen, shares a quiet, insipid life with her invalid husband Dai Liyan. Also living with them are Liyan's teenage sister, Dai Xiu, and an old servant, Lao Huang. One day, Zhang Zhichen, Liyan's childhood friend and the former lover of Yuwen, comes to see Liyan. This unannounced visit is like a stone thrown into a still pond, causing ripples in everyone's hearts. The reunion stirs up hidden feelings in Yuwen and Zhichen, while the young and innocent Xiu has a crush on the gentlemanly Zhichen. The four fall into an entangled web of relationships - the dilemmas of sense and sensibility, the choice of whether to stay or go. Which way is right at this time of turmoil?
Li Liuyi is a stage director with an international presence in China's contemporary drama genre. He is director and playwright with Beijing People's Art Theatre, and has been commended by the Japanese theatre legend, Tadashi Suzuki, as "the most influential stage artist of Asia in the new century". He has over 50 productions to his credit, and has been commissioned as dramaturge by many international arts festivals. His highly original theory of "pure drama" and his application in practice have been dubbed the "Li Liuyi Methodology", which has been widely studied and acclaimed. Several of his works have been staged in Hong Kong, such as the plays "Peking Man" and "Not the Ordinary Mahjong Game", a ballet production of "The Peony Pavilion" and the Peking opera series "The Heroine Trilogy".
A strong creative team includes artistic advisor Barbara Fei; adaptor, director and stage designer Li Liuyi; and performers Lu Fang, Guo Jinglin, Han Qing and Li Shilong.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and produced by Li Liuyi Theatre Studio, "Spring in a Small Town" (In Putonghua with Chinese and English Surtitles) will be performed at 7.30pm on April 10 and 11 (Friday and Saturday) and at 2.30pm on April 12 (Sunday) at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets are priced at $120, $220, $300 and $380.
Details of fringe events are as follows:
Film screening: "Springtime in a Small Town"
(Directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang, 2002)
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March 1 (Sunday) 2.30pm
Lecture Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum
Cast: Hu Jingfan, Wu Jun and Xin Boqing
Ticket Price: $50
(In Putonghua with Chinese and English Subtitles)
Film screening: "Spring in a Small Town"
(Directed by Fei Mu, 1948)
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March 25 (Wednesday) 7.30pm
Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
Cast: Wei Wei, Shi Yu, Li Wei, Zhang Hongmei and Cui Chaoming
Ticket Price: $50
(In Putonghua with Chinese and English Subtitles)
Talk
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March 25 (Wednesday) 9pm
Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
Speakers: Li Liuyi, Barbara Fei, Cheng Peikai, Koo Siusun and Wong Ainling
Free Admission
Tickets are now available at URBTIX. 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 maximum discount of 20 per cent is offered for the group booking package (not applicable to film screenings). Please refer to programme leaflet for details.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/theatre/program_721.html. For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Friday, January 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 10:00
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