The Ko Lai Sum Cantonese Opera Troupe will stage three classic plays of the late acclaimed Cantonese opera actress Fung Wong Nui in September. The repertoire comprises "The Swallows Have Returned but not My Love", "A Story of Two Celestials in the Mortal World" and "The Plucky Empress and the Zealous Prince".
"The Swallows Have Returned but not My Love" tells the story of the Prince of the State of Xiliang, Wei Jianhun, who is in love with a village girl, Bai Lixiang. Bai has become pregnant and the couple vow to have a reunion next spring when the swallows return. Princess Coral of the State of Eastern Qi insists Wei should give up Bai if he wants to join forces to fight against Xiongnu (the Huns). She even wants to get rid of Bai and takes away Bai's newborn son to abandon him. Eventually, Princess Coral acknowledges her wrongdoing while Wei and Bai and their son are reunited.
"The Swallows Have Returned but not My Love"
7.30pm, September 18 (Saturday)
Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre
Tickets: $140, $220 and $340
Cast: Lee Lung, Ko Lai, Sun Kim-long, Leung Wai-hong, Janet Wong and Yat Dim-hung
Set in a legendary kingdom called Shuntian, "A Story of Two Celestials in the Mortal World" starts with Lu Gaitian, formerly a middle-ranking concubine of the late king, coming to power and declaring herself as monarch. She is enamoured of Li Yi, the second crown prince, and Li pretends to be attracted by Lu. The Prime Minister, Hu Renzhi, secretly helps Li restore the previous dynasty. Lu is besieged by Li at the palace.
"A Story of Two Celestials in the Mortal World"
7.30pm, September 24 (Friday)
Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall
Tickets: $140, $220, $300 and $380
Cast: Lee Lung, Ko Lai, Ruan Dewen, Sun Kim-long, Kwok Kai-fai, Janet Wong and Liang Xiaofei
In "The Plucky Empress and the Zealous Prince", Prince Liang has long been a secret admirer of Qiuhong, a niece of Imperial Mentor Jia who wants to usurp the throne. Qiuxia, a younger sister of Qiuhong, is violated and killed by Prince Qi, who is arm-twisted by Jia to rebel. Jia misleads Qiuhong and implicates Prince Liang as the murderer. To avenge her sister, Qiuhong follows Jia's suggestion to marry Emperor Wei and tries to kill Prince Liang. Uncovering Jia, the Emperor exposes the wicked courtier and stops the intended marriage with Qiuhong, and Qiuhong and Prince Liang finally get back together.
"The Plucky Empress and the Zealous Prince"
7.30pm, September 25 (Saturday)
Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre
Tickets: $140, $220, $300 and $380
Cast: Lee Lung, Ko Lai, Sun Kim-long, Kwok Kai-fai, Janet Wong and Liang Xiaofei
"A Revival of Fung Wong Nui's Celebrated Repertoire in Cantonese Opera" 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_1158.html.
A pre-performance talk and a post-performance talk in Cantonese will be held at 7.30pm on September 3 (Friday) and September 27 (Monday) respectively at Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Speakers will include Ko Lai, Ruan Dewen and Ng Wing-hei (pre-performance) and Sun Kim-long and Ko Lai (post-performance). Admission is free. Telephone registration is required and those interested in attending may call 2268 7267 from 10am on August 27 (Friday). Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details can be found on the above website.
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