Cantonese opera performers to pay tribute to comedy master Leung Sing-por

     A group of veteran Cantonese opera stars will feature in "A Revival of Leung Sing-por's Celebrated Repertoire in Cantonese Operas" and perform three remarkable classic plays of the late comedy legend in March. The works, namely "A Comedy of Mistaken Heroes", "A Triumphant Return" and "Abducting the Bride", should have the halls rolling in laughter.
　
     In "A Comedy of Mistaken Heroes", the identities of Li Hunsu, the troubled Prince of the Yellow Dragon State who falls in love with the Red flower State's Princess Danfeng, and Lai Peewee become confused following a series of unfortunate slip-ups. Lai even becomes the target of a contract killing by Li's love rival, Bai Tongling. During a struggle, the King of the Red flower State sees Lai's birthmarks on his chest and suspects that Lai is his son born to a woman from a humble background he met years ago. The King finally finds his son and decides to give his daughter's hand to Li.
 
"A Comedy of Mistaken Heroes"
7.30pm, March 9 (Tuesday)
Auditorium, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing
Tickets: $140, $240 and $340
Cast: Loong Koon-tin, Chan Wing-yee, Chan Hung-chun, Lui Hung-kwong, Ko Lai and Lai Yiu-wai
 
     In "A Triumphant Return", Ye Baoxiang, the son of a Minister, is in love with Dai Jinhuan, a girl from a humble background. However, Dai's father believes Minister Ye is an evil government official and therefore does not give his blessings to the couple. Prince Wenling orders Dai to become his concubine in the palace, but Ye and Dai are already deeply in love and she is pregnant. A series of comical scenes unfold.
 
"A Triumphant Return"
7.30pm, March 28 (Sunday)
Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre
Tickets: $140, $220 and $320
Cast: Leung Siu-ming, Tang Mei-ling, Chan Hung-chun, Lai Yiu-wai, Yuen Siu-fai and Ko Lai
 
     "Abducting the Bride" tells the story of Gui Nanping, the son of an imperial commissioner Gui Chengxun. Arrangements had been made before Gui's birth for him to marry the daughter of a man who has since renamed himself as Yu Youcai, and has become an infamous loan shark. Gui falls in love with Yu's elder daughter, Jiezhen, but trouble arises when he sees Yu's vile money-lending deeds. When Yu decides to have Jiezhen marry the Prime Minister's son instead, Jiezhen disguises herself as a bridesmaid and substitutes her sister, Jiebing, as the bride for the wedding ceremony. The parties then take the case to court, accusing each other of various misdeeds. When Commissioner Gui finally arrives at the scene, Yu eventually agrees to marry Jiezhen to Gui Nanping.
 
"Abducting the Bride"
7.30pm, March 29 (Monday)
Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre
Tickets: $140, $220 and $320
Cast: Leung Siu-ming, Tang Mei-ling, Chan Hung-chun, Lui Hung-kwong, Yuen Siu-fai, Ko Lai and Lai Yiu-wai
 
     "A Revival of Leung Sing-por's Celebrated Repertoire in Cantonese Operas" 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_1009.html.
 
     A pre-performance talk and a post-performance talk in Cantonese will be held at 7.30pm on March 6 (Saturday) and at 7.30pm on March 30 (Tuesday) at the Function Room, 4/F, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing. Speakers will include Yuen Siu-fai, Chan Wing-yee, Ko Lai and Chan Hung-chun (pre-performance) and Leung Siu-ming, Tang Mei-ling, Ko Lai and Chan Hung-chun (post-performance). Admission is free. Telephone registration is required and please call 2268 7267 from 10am on March 1 (Monday). Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details can be found on the above website.