China Theatre Plum Blossom Award to stage competition in Hong Kong for first time with China National Peking Opera Company to perform "Chuncao Breaks into the Courtroom" in May
******************************************************************************************
The Plum Blossom Award was established in 1983. The title was derived from the Chinese saying that "the plum blossom's scent wafts in the bitterest cold" (which means the award honours performing artists for their hard-earned achievements), and the award is deemed as the highest award for Chinese theatre performing arts. It has honoured 711 performers so far. The award covers 55 genres in Chinese traditional theatre, drama, opera, musical, etc. The Plum Blossom Award is in its 31st edition this year, and a total of 17 artists from across China have been shortlisted for the final judging. Among them, Ms Zhang and her affiliated company, the China National Peking Opera Company, will perform for the competition to be staged in Hong Kong on May 15 (Monday), and will be judged by the panel of expert adjudicators for the award. The same play will be performed again by the Company on May 16 (Tuesday). Tickets for both days are available for sale, so that more audience members will be able to appreciate the high-standard, national-level performance.
The China National Peking Opera Company was founded in 1955, with the Peking opera legend, Maestro Mei Lanfeng, as its founding director. For more than six decades, the Company has brought together many talented professionals in Peking opera, and has upheld the legacy while diligently creating new works. The play "Chuncao Breaks into the Courtroom" that will be performed in Hong Kong was adapted from a traditional Fujian Puxian opera. With a tense and convoluted storyline, the play offers ample opportunities for comedic and witty interaction between the male and female protagonists. The production has enjoyed wide acclaim, and has been staged frequently over the last six decades. It has also become part of the classic repertoire of the Company.
Details of the programme "The 31st China Theatre Plum Blossom Award - Performances for Hong Kong Branch Venue" are as follows:
Date: May 15 (competition)
May 16 (performance)
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Auditorium, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing
Ticket price: $280, $380 and $480
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
Peking opera play "Chuncao Breaks into the Courtroom"
Synopsis: Li Banyue, daughter of the Prime Minister, and her maid Chuncao are approached and teased by Wu Du, son of the Minister of Civil Service. Scholar Xue Meiting happens to pass by and thwarts Wu's attempts, but accidentally kills Wu in the ensuing scuffle. At the trial, Wu's mother forces Prefect Hu Jin to sentence Xue to death by caning. Chuncao barges into the courtroom and lies that Xue is the son-in-law of the Prime Minister. Chuncao then convinces Li to corroborate that Xue is her fiancé. Chuncao later schemes to alter the contents of the letter from the Prime Minister so the false betrothal between Xue and Li becomes real, and they get married.
Each performance will run about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Lyrics and dialogue are with Chinese and English surtitles. Tickets are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1507.html.
Ends/Friday, April 21, 2023
Issued at HKT 10:30
Issued at HKT 10:30
NNNN