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EVENT DESCRIPTION
The Sichuan Opera Troupe, upon the invitation of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will stage two iconic plays and a selection of brilliant excerpts for three consecutive nights starting from June 30 (Friday) at this year’s Chinese Opera Festival (COF).
The troupe’s director and two-time recipient of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award, Chen Zhilin, will lead Plum Blossom Award recipients Liu Yi and Zhang Yan, as well as National Class One and outstanding young performers, to visit Hong Kong and showcase their distinguished skills, allowing audiences to savour the vocal styles and unique stunts with the artistic flavour of the Sichuan region.
Originated during the Qing dynasty period, Sichuan opera is the most widespread regional theatrical form in the southwest region of China, and was inscribed onto the First National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006. Sichuan opera has assimilated the artistic vocal styles of kunqiang, gaoqiang, huqin, tanxi and dengxi that blended with the vernacular features of the local dialect, featuring unique humour and wisdom that are highly enjoyable to audiences.
The first performance will stage the traditional play “The Legend of the White Snake”. The role of White Snake is civil at first and later turns martial, whereas that of Green Snake is interpreted in the two different images of huadan (young female) and wusheng (military male) rotationally. The scenes also employ demanding stunts like swift face-changing, lifting, standing on shoulder and flicking of flowing sleeves. At the second performance, Chen Zhilin will star in the classic Sichuan opera “A Marriage as a Peace Pact”, featuring the entire stock roles in a story filled with dramatic turns and distinct regional flavour. The play has been well-loved by audiences since its first performance in 1962. The final performance will be a selection of five excerpts performed in the unique gaoqiang and tanxi vocal styles of Sichuan opera. “Catching Sanlang Alive” highlights the unique Sichuan opera stunt of “lifting the dummy” as well as the stylised routines of the satin ribbon and the walk of the demon fox. “Waylaying the Horse”, “Wu Song Killing His Sister-in-Law” and “The Injustice Done to Dou E” will show the stunt with the chairs, the flicking of flowing sleeves and the fests of “hair flip” and “stance fix”. “Holding a Candle to Burn His Books” is an excerpt from the famous Sichuan opera play “The Scholar from Bashan”, which showcases the singing skills of gaoqiang of the cast.
Details of the three performances are as follows:
Date and time: June 30 (Friday), 7.30pm
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“The Legend of the White Snake”
Main cast: Liu Yi (former part) / Zhou Ting (latter part), Yang Kunhao, Xie Zhanghong, Liu Su, Li Jiajun, Yang Xu
Synopsis: Fairy White Snake is imprisoned in the white lotus pond by the Buddha because of her love for Arhat Guizhi. She struggles to free herself from the shackles and flees to the mortal world. With the help of Green Snake, she marries the banished Xu Xian (Arhat Guizhi reincarnated). At the order of the Buddha, Monk Fahai follows Xu to the mortal world and tries to break up the loving couple. White Snake shows her magical power furiously and flooded the Mount Jin. Together with Green Snake, the two fight bravely against the ferocious heavenly generals.
Date and time: July 1 (Saturday), 7.30pm
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“A Marriage as a Peace Pact”
Main cast: Chen Zhilin, Xiong Xiangang, Zhao Siya, Du Jia
Synopsis: During the final years of the Eastern Han dynasty, Liu Bei uses Jing Province that he borrowed from Sun Quan of Eastern Wu as a foothold. When Sun Quan’s repeated attempts to reclaim Jing Province prove futile, his military governor Zhou Yu sets up a beauty trap. By saying Sun offers his sister Lady Sun Shangxiang to Liu Bei as a wife and asking Liu to cross the river to complete the wedding ceremony, Sun Quan hopes to seize the chance to reclaim Jing Province. Liu Bei’s counsellor Zhuge Liang arranges tricks, turning Sun’s trick around and realising the fake marriage instead. Zhou Yu then comes up with another scheme by trying to lure Liu Bei to indulge in wine and women. Following Zhuge Liang’s advice, Liu feigns being fatuous and succeeds in learning Lady Sun’s heartfelt wish. They wait for the chance to flee. In the end, Zhou Yu loses on both fronts and must pay a double penalty.
Date and time: July 2 (Sunday), 7.30pm
