Xiqu

The story takes place during the last years of the Ming period. A scholar, Hou Chaozong, has fallen in love with a courtesan, Li Xiangjun, after they met in a brothel in Nanjing. The two are engaged to be married. Ruan Dacheng, who has sided with the remnant forces of eunuchs holding sway of state affairs, wants to lure Hou to join his faction, and offers the dowry secretly to Li. Seeing through his evil intent, Li rejects his offer. Ruan then frames Hou as colluding with ministers like Zuo Liangyu to overthrow the regime, thus forcing Hou to flee. Hou, a man of letters and member of the literary and political party Fu She, and Li, an intelligent and artistically accomplished beauty, are both real figures in Chinese history. Their trials and tribulations are pitched against the tumultuous times, and form the backbone of the play. At which point do their lives take a downturn? How do their breakup and reunion articulate with the vicissitudes of the country? What is the relationship between Hou and his best friend Yang Longyou? All these add interest to the drama and story, making this a production not to be missed.
This adaptation is written by Sun Kim-long based on The Peach Blossom Fan by Kong Shangren of the early Qing period. Through the love story of Hou and Li, the play traces the decline of the Ming period, but offers an unexpected ending. The production is an endeavour of veterans in the genre to pass the art to the younger generation of actors. The cast is therefore a fine mix of renowned veterans and rising stars in Cantonese Opera, including Sun Kim-long, Nam Fung, Yuen Siu-fai, Tang Mi-ling, Lui Hung-kwong, Johnson Yuen and Chan Kei-ting. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the inscription of Cantonese Opera on UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity which has great significance to the recognition of Cantonese Opera in the world.