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Arthur Miller's classic works "All My Sons" and "The Crucible" will be staged in the reader's theatre format (in Cantonese) in August and September. The performances will be presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, directed by Luther Fung and performed by outstanding actors.
The reader's theatre format frees the performers and the audience from conventional theatre's limitations. Without standard stage sets or costumes, actors will read Miller's scripts to enhance audience appreciation and understanding. Theatre veteran Chung King-fai will join the performances of "All My Sons".
"All My Sons" takes place during the Second World War. American manufacturer Joe is suspected of having sold defective warplane spare parts to the military, leading to the death of 21 aircrew members. Joe is arrested but claims he knows nothing about the matter, thus implicating his business partner Steve. Joe is discharged while Steve is indicted and imprisoned. Joe's son Larry is betrothed to Steve's daughter Annie, but disappears along with his warplane. After the war, Joe's another son Chris helps to manage his father's business, and wants to marry Annie. Steve's son George, upon his father's order, tries to thwart them and reveals the truth about the defective spare parts. Actors in the "All My Sons" reader's theatre presentation include Chung King-fai, Johnson Yu, Barry Chan, Ruby Chu, Gladys Wong, Guthrie Yip, Ngai Chi-hang, Patra Au, Mary Lee and Andy Tang. It will be held at 7.30pm on August 26 and September 2 at the Exhibition Gallery of Sha Tin Town Hall.
"The Crucible" was inspired by "witch trials" in Salem, Massachusetts. Set in 1692, the story tells of an ill-intentioned, vengeful group who exploit the unorthodox nighttime behaviour of a group of girls in the woods. They persuade the pastor of the town to declare the girls as witches, and use their religious and political power to smear the girls in order to satisfy their own selfish interests. The town soon becomes shrouded in hatred, suspicion, fear and death, where morals are warped and right and wrong is subverted. Faced with the threat of punishment or even death, people have to tell lies to keep themselves out of harm's way. Actors in "The Crucible" reader's theatre presentation include Yip Chun, Lai Yuk-ching, Pang Hang-ying, Luther Fung, Gladys Wong, Ida Leung, Sun Wai-keung, Sheung Ming-fai, Chan Suk-yi, Barry Chan and Ko Hon-man. It will be held at 7.30pm on September 16 and 30 at the Exhibition Gallery of Sha Tin Town Hall.
Tickets priced at $160 for each performance (free seating)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). Please refer to the website or the programme leaflet for group booking discount.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325, or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/theatre/program_927.html. For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For Internet bookings, please visit www.urbtix.hk.
Post-performance talks will be held after each reader's theatre presentation. The director and performers will also share their views of Miller's works with the audiences.
Ends/Friday, July 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 12:55
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