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Chaozhou Opera Troupe of Chaozhou City of Guangdong and Sun Hon Kwong Chiu Chow Opera Troupe will stage three traditional Chaozhou operas in April. The performances are part of the Lingnan Music Series presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
The programmes are "Prince Jiuxian, the Patriot", "A Girl Named Mo Chou" and "The Wedding of Cheng Yaojin". The main cast includes the acclaimed performers Zheng Shunying, Li Yulan, Xu Jiana, Wang Liushu, Huang Yikai, Zhong Jinwei, Wen Yingbin and Chen Xiaoxia of the Chaozhou Opera Troupe of Chaozhou City of Guangdong.
Details of the performances are as follows:
April 1 (Friday), 7.30pm
Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre
Programme: "Prince Jiuxian, the Patriot"
Synopsis: To identify talents, Prince Jiuxian disguises himself as a civilian and visits Mengjin County under the pseudonym Wang Xianjiu. He is robbed and no one could help him. Woodcutter Wang Hua, not knowing the true identity of Prince Jiuxian, sees how the old Prince suffers and takes him home as his guest, treating the Prince in civilian disguise as his own father. Wang Jinliang, the son of Wang Hua, is clever and skilful in martial arts. Prince Jiuxian teaches the young man to read military literature and encourages him to sit for the imperial exams in the city. The magistrate of Mengjin County is a corrupt person. Jinliang makes a scene at the examination hall and leaves in fury. The magistrate is very angry and he sends Prince Jiuxian to prison.
April 2 (Saturday), 7.30pm
Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre
Programme: "A Girl Named Mo Chou"
Synopsis: In the early Ming dynasty, Mochou, a maid at the home of Prince Zhongshan, accompanies the young master Xu Cheng when he studies. The two fall in love and are secretly engaged. But Grandma Xu arranges for Qiu Caiyun, the daughter of the Prime Minister, to become the new bride of Xu Cheng. On the wedding night, Xu Cheng leaves in anger and later becomes depressed. Caiyun wants to end Xu Cheng's loving thoughts for Mochou. She lures and coerces the imperial doctor to take out the eyes of Mochou and mix them into the medicine for curing Xu Cheng's depression.
April 3 (Sunday), 7.30pm
Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
Programme: "The Wedding of Cheng Yaojin"
Synopsis: Rebellions are frequent during the last few years of the Sui dynasty. Cheng Yaojin, the leader of the anti-government army of the Wagang Stockade, is defeated many times because the Sui general Pei Yuanqing is too skilful in warfare. Cheng therefore forges the writing of Pei Renji, the father of Pei Yuanqing, trying to deceive the mother of Pei Yuanqing and her daughter Pei Cuiyun into visiting the mountains. In the faked letter, it is also written that Pei Cuiyun would be married to Cheng Yaojin. Madam Pei is not aware that the letter is a set-up, so she personally sends off her daughter to the mountains to marry Cheng. On the wedding night, Pei Cuiyun finds out that Cheng Yaojin has the least attractive looks and that she has been deceived. Cheng Yaojin tells her candidly about why he became rebellious and why he wants her to meet him. Pei Cuiyun is touched by Cheng's honesty and the two become husband and wife. Pei Yuanqing and his father also surrender to the Wagang Stockade, and everyone joins the anti-government army.
The performances will have Chinese surtitles, and English synopses will be available upon request. Tickets priced from $120 to $200 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_1032.html.
Ends/Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Issued at HKT 10:30
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