New Cantonese opera "Romantic Dreams of Sudi" by playwright Sun Kim-long to be staged in April
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The story follows the two unforgettable romances of Su Xiaoxiao, a renowned courtesan from the South Song Dynasty. Throughout her uneasy life, she holds strong affections for Ruan Yu and Bao Ren, but her love never comes to fruition. In the end, the two poetic and dreamlike romances are buried in the West Lake.
Su Xiaoxiao is gifted and beautiful. Yet Su Xiaoxiao vows to remain chaste – she sells only her art, not her body. One day, Xiaoxiao meets Ruan Yu, the son of the Prime Minister, by the West Lake. It is love at first sight. But the newly appointed magistrate Meng Lang is mesmerised by the beauty of Xiaoxiao. He goes to the Prime Minister and accuses Ruan Yu of indulging in a decadent life because he is obsessed with Xiaoxiao. Ruan Yu is forced to marry someone else and tries to run away from his father at night, but unfortunately dies during his escape. Shocked by the tragic news of her lover's death, Xiaoxiao misses Ruan Yu every night and is melancholic every day.
The second romance is about Xiaoxiao and Bao Ren, a handsome and talented scholar. The two acquaintances tour around the lake and find an instant connection. Another love story begins. Xiaoxiao takes out all she owns and convinces Bao Ren to sit at the Imperial Examination to obtain the title he deserves. But, after Bao has left, Xiaoxiao falls ill and becomes weaker by the day. Unfortunately, Xiaoxiao passes away the same day as Bao Ren returns in triumph.
Details of the programme are as follows:
April 23 (Sunday) 7.30pm
Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre
Tickets: $120, $220, $280
April 24 (Monday) 7.30pm
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Tickets: $120, $160, $220, $280
April 25 (Tuesday) 7.30pm
Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
Tickets: $120, $160, $240, $320
The programme is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets 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/chinese_opera/programs_195.html.
A pre-performance talk (to be conducted in Cantonese) will be held at 2.30pm on March 26 (Sunday) in the Function Room, 4/F, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing. Speakers will include Loong Koon-tin, Nam Fung and Sun Kim-long. Admission is free. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ends/Thursday, March 2, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:36
Issued at HKT 17:36
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