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Ling Lung Cantonese Opera Troupe to pay tribute to Cantonese opera playwright Lee Siu-wan
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     The Ling Lung Cantonese Opera Troupe will perform the late Cantonese opera playwright Lee Siu-wan's renowned works "A Sword Story", "Auspicious Signs" and "The Tragic Love of Lady Ping" in May. Details are as follows:

"A Sword Story"
Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
7.30pm, May 8 (Friday)
Tickets: $100, $160, $220 and $280
Cast: Ng Chin-fung, Tang Mi-ling, Chan Hung-chun, Lui Hung-kwong, Sun Kim-long and Cheng Wing-mui.

     While practicing martial arts in Pengshan, Shangguan Ziyu receives a letter from home urging him to return for marriage. But things take a tragic turn as the entire family is killed, leaving only a woollen ball with a golden wild goose insignia as a clue. Shangguan cannot marry while in mourning. He and his fiancée Murong Wanqin observe three years' mourning in a cottage before the marriage takes place. After three years, the murderer is still at large. Murong forges a sword for her fiancé with which to avenge his family. Shangguan finally discovers who the murderer is and kills him to avenge his deceased parents. However, the story takes a twist as the man Shangguan kills turns out to be Murong's father.

"Auspicious Signs"
Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre
7.30pm, May 16 (Saturday)
Tickets: $100, $160 and $220
Cast: Ng Chin-fung, Tang Mi-ling, Wan Yuk-yu, Lui Hung-kwong, Yuen Siu-fai and Wang Kit-ching.

     Hongluan starts out as a fairy serving the Queen Mother of the West in the Heavenly Jade Pool. But for the sin of desiring love like mortals she is relegated to earth, where she engages in a relationship with a mortal man.

     Two princeling brothers vie for Hongluan's love. Princeling Chen is handsome and attracts Hongluan. In their infatuated state, they succumb to their passions, resulting in Hongluan's pregnancy. Later, the unattractive Princeling Hong carries out a plot in which Hongluan nearly marries him, and Chen nearly marries Hongluan's plain elder sister Honglian by mistake. In the end Hong admits his wrongdoings and withdraws from the love triangle. Hongluan and Chen tie the knot. When Hongluan returns to her celestial ranks, she realises that mortal love is only ephemeral and inferior to the eternal well-being of heaven. She delivers her son on earth and bids farewell to the mortal world for good.

"The Tragic Love of Lady Ping"
Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
7.30pm, May 23 (Saturday)
Tickets: $100, $160, $200 and $240
Cast: Ng Chin-fung, Tang Mi-ling, Chan Hung-chun, Lui Hung-kwong, Song Hongbo and Ko Lai.

     The Han Emperor Wendi has admired Pingji, the daughter of Minister Bai Sharen, for her beauty for a long time. When Pingji's brother Weilang returns to court after being defeated in battle, Emperor Wendi suggests that if Pingji is to be offered to him as imperial concubine, he will spare the entire family from death. However, General Sima Jianhua and Pingji are lovers and Pingji is already pregnant.

     On the day Pingji gives birth, she pretends to reject Sima, who in a moment's rage marries Princess Fenglou. Six years later, Princess Fenglou learns of the secret affair between Sima and Pingji in the past, and kills their son. Pingji blames herself for her son's death and drowns herself in a river.

     Lee Siu-wan developed an interest in Cantonese opera when he was young. With a strong literary background, he was a regular with music groups before he turned to writing libretti for Cantonese opera. His talent came to the notice of Cantonese opera legend Sit Kok-sin, who invited him to pen scripts for his Kok Sin Sing Cantonese Opera Troupe. The collaboration included "The Return of the Swallows", "When a Lover Becomes a Stranger", "Cao Zhi", "Jealousy" and "Rekindled Love". Lee also wrote "The Knight of Knights" and "The Tragic Love of Lady Ping" for the Sing Lee Nin Opera Troupe and Ho Fei-fan, both of which won critical acclaim.

     "A Selection of Cantonese Opera by Lee Siu-wan" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. 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 post-performance talk (to be conducted in Cantonese) will be held at 7.30pm on May 29 (Friday) at AC1, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Speakers will include Ng Chin-fung and Tang Mi-ling. Admission is free with limited seats 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/program_798.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 3761 6661 and telephone credit card bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.

Ends/Monday, March 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:01

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