New Cantonese opera "Saving Her Husband at the West River" to conclude "Cantonese Operas Across Time" series in December
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With a fusion of traditional and modern elements, "Saving Her Husband at the West River" has retained the older repertory of this formulaic play by more or less following the original features of the classic scenes, including the highlight of the play "Chastising King Yan", as well as "Mourning the Living" and "Wreaking Havoc at the Residence". In addition, newly written scenes such as "Encounter at the Temple" and "Disaster Strikes" have been added to make the story more complete and to energise the traditional repertory.
The story of the play begins when scholar He Runlong and Han Yufeng fall in love at first sight and betroth themselves to each other. The emperor's brother-in-law, Shi Chongying, accosts Yufeng when Runlong is away from home. Being expelled by Yufeng and her maid, Shi frames Runlong, which leads to the latter's arrest. Yufeng mistakenly believes her husband is going to be executed and prepares a prayer altar for him. When she passes by the Temple of the King of Hell, her indignation at the injustice prompts her to write a poem of accusation on the temple's wall. The King of Hell summons her for a hearing, and Yufeng finds out that Runlong is still alive. The King then orders a ghost guard to teach Yufeng martial arts so she can save her husband at West River, and then vent her grievances at the Shi residence. In the end, the husband and wife are reunited.
Details of the programme are as follows:
Date and time: December 5 and 6 (Monday and Tuesday), 7.30pm
Venue: Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
Tickets: $140, $220, $300 and $380
Date and time: December 10 (Saturday), 7.30pm
Venue: Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
Tickets: $140, $200, $260 and $320
Main cast: Li Qiuyuan, Tse Hue-ying, Yuen Siu-fai, Liu Kwok-sum, Ng Lap-hei and Leung Sum-yee
Lyrics and dialogue are with Chinese and English surtitles. 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_1388.html.
A pre-performance talk and a post-performance talk in Cantonese will be held at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The pre-performance talk will be held at 7.30pm on November 22 (Tuesday). Speakers are Ko Yun-hung, Tse Hue-ying and Li Qiuyuan. The post-performance talk will be held at 7.30pm on December 15 (Thursday). Speakers are Ko Yun-hung, Tse Hue-ying and Yuen Siu-fai. Admission is free. Telephone registration is required, please call 2268 7267 from 10am on November 10 (Thursday). Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details can be found on the above website.
In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, members of the public are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the performing arts venues managed by the LCSD for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must comply with the requirements of the Vaccine Pass. According to the latest requirements on the Vaccine Pass announced by the Government, all persons with their Vaccine Pass QR codes displayed in red or amber are not allowed to enter performing arts venues managed by the LCSD.
Ends/Friday, November 4, 2022
Issued at HKT 11:00
Issued at HKT 11:00
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