A Revival of Leung Sing-por's Celebrated Repertoire in Cantonese Operas 【Talk Broadcast Online】

Speaker: Leung Siu-ming, Tang Mei-ling and Chan Hung-chun

In Cantonese

9.3.2021

A Comedy of Mistaken Heroes

Playwright: Fang Yuan

In order to woo Princess Danfeng of Red Flower State, Prince Bai Tongling of White Gold State invades the Yellow Dragon State in a bid to make its Crown Prince Li Hunsu a political hostage to Red Flower State. But Li escapes and reaches a rural district, where he meets a village girl, Jiao Jiao, and her lover Pee Wee. Li and Pee Wee somehow mistakenly swap identities before they are both sent to Red Flower State as political hostages. Princess Dangeng falls in love with Li and wants to make him her consort. Bai hires a killer to make Li disappear forever. Pee Wee, out of patriotism, is ready to sacrifice himself on Li’s behalf. During the struggle, Pee Wee’s three moles on the chest are exposed. On seeing the birth marks, the King of Red flower State suspects Pee Wee is his son born to a woman whom he met years ago. His suspicion is confirmed and Pee Wee is proved to be his son. Li also owns up to his true identity of Crown Prince. The King of Red Flower decides to forge an alliance with Yellow Dragon State and give his daughter’s hand to Li. Jiao Jiao acquires immediate royal status when she marries Pee Wee. Bai Tongling is left with neither wife nor victory after much ado about nothing.

Loong Koon-tin as Li Hunsu

Chan Wing-yee as Xiong Danfeng

Chan Hung-chun as Lai Peewee

Lui Hung-kwong as Xiong Feilong

Ko Lai as Cai Jiaojiao

Lai Yiu-wai as Bai Tongling

28.3.2021

A Triumphant Return

Playwright: Lee Siu-wan

A Triumphant Return tells the story of Ye Baoxiang, the son of a minister, and the girl who falls in love with him, Dai Jinhuan. However, Jinhuan is also admired by Prince Wenling and is made the imperial concubine. Will Baoxiang be able to get his beloved back? Presented in the form of a tragicomedy, this performance is highly recommended.

Leung Siu-ming as Ye Baoxiang

Tang Mei-ling as Dai Jinhuan

Chan Hung-chun as Dai Yu

Lai Yiu-wai as Ye Zhengqing

Yuen Siu-fai as Wen Ling

Ko Lai as Wang Zhexiang

29.3.2021

Abducting the Bride

Playwright: Pan Yi-fan

Adaptation: Yip Shiu-tak

The Imperial Commissioner Gui Chengxun returns to Nantong County to look for the family to which his son Nanping was betrothed before birth, unaware that the future father-in-law has changed his name to Yu Youcai and become a loan shark.  One day, Yu’s elder daughter Jiezhen is harassed by a lascivious bully, and Nanping saves her out of chivalry. The two fall in love at first sight.  Later when Nanping witnesses Yu’s vile money lending deeds in the streets, they become enemies.  Meanwhile Gui Chengxun has located his in-laws, so during the New Year, father and son pay them a visit.  When Yu sees Nanping and recognizes him, he immediately annuls the betrothal in a fury.  The bully happens to visit to propose marriage to Jiezhen, and Youcai accepts as he is the Prime Minister’s son.  Jiezhen goes to see Nanping; Youcai, thinking the Gui’s are of humble backgrounds, jests that Nanping can marry his daughter if he can offer the right wedding gift money.  When Nanping does present the gift, the bully also arrives to fetch the bride.  The two fight over who should marry the girl.  In the end Youcai gives her daughter’s hand to the bully.  That evening Jiezhen and her sister Jiebing swap identities with Jiezhen posing as the bridesmaid to accompany Jiebing to go through the wedding ceremony.  The party ends up in court with each side accusing the other of various misdeeds.  The bully forces the County Mayor to give a hasty verdict, but Gui Chengxun the Imperial Commissioner arrives in time to dole out justice. Youcai finally consents to Nanping and Jiezhen’s marriage, and the story comes to a happy ending.

Leung Siu-ming as Gui Nanping

Tang Mei-ling as Yu Jiezhen

Chan Hung-chun as Yu Youcai  

Lui Hung-kwong as Gui Chengxun

Yuen Siu-fai as Chu Tiehao 

Ko Lai as Yu Jiebing

Lai Yiu-wai as Bu Shoufa

Running time of each performance is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes including an intermission of 15 minutes.
Information provided by the arts group.

Please refer to Chinese version.