Xiqu

As foreign tribes invade from the north, the frontier is in urgent need of back up. Chief Commander Ho Ting Yuk reports the situation to the imperial court and soldier recruitment is kicked off. As a former soldier, Muk Lan’s father Fa Wu must report duty, but he is too old and too ill from an extended illness to do so. Since her father is old and her brother is too young, Muk Lan joins the army in place of her father. Coincidentally, the army of Ting Yuk is defeated. Muk Lan and others rescue them from the enemy’s siege. She is given important duties by Ting Yuk.

The state is at war for 12 years, but foreign tribes are yet to be eliminated. One night, Muk Lan is patrolling the barracks. When she feels bored, she suddenly sees a flock of birds flying around. She knows the enemy is about to launch an attack and immediately discusses with her army to set up a formation. They win the battle and the country returns to peace and prosperity. The army returns home victoriously. Muk Lan goes home and reveals her real identity as a female. She is pardoned by the Emperor for hiding her true identity and reunites with her family.

Pre-Performance Demonstration Workshop
Based on the story Fa Muk Lan and supplemented with elaboration and demonstration, the workshop covers:

a brief discussion about the story of Muk Lan joining the army in place of her father in the Yuefu poem Ode to Muk Lan, and the changes made in the Cantonese opera script;
the artistic features of singing, reciting, gesturing and fighting in the art of Cantonese opera;
music elements in performance including banghuang, xiaoqu, gong and drum, etc; and
symbolism in Cantonese opera, including the time-space compression concept and artistic performance techniques.