Opening Programme – Cyrano de Bergerac – A Cantonese Opera Interpretation
14-15/6 (Fri-Sat) 7:30pm
16/6 (Sun) 2:30pm
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
With Chinese and English surtitles.
Members of the audience are strongly advised to arrive punctually. Latecomers and those who leave their seats during the performance will only be admitted and allowed to return to their seats respectively during the intermission or at a suitable break.
Enquiries: 2268 7325 (Programme) /
3166 1100 (Ticketing)
Booking: 3166 1288 / www.urbtix.hk
Opening this year's Festival is a Cantonese Opera interpretation of the famous French play Cyrano de Bergerac developed by eminent opera star Law Ka-ying over a period of ten years. It is a witty and touching tale about love conveyed through letters set during the Tumu Crisis in the Ming dynasty.
Law Ka-ying, playwright and director of the new production, will as well perform as Zhu Bufan, Cyrano in the original play, who is in love with the beautiful and talented heroine, a huashan (young vivacious female) role played by Liza Wang, while Sun Kim Long plays a character that sacrifices for love and fights for his country. The strong cast will delicately interpret the political disputes in the story as well as the complex emotions between love and friendship through close-knit scenes. The new production promises to be a compelling drama helmed by leading actors in Cantonese Opera, demonstrating the eclecticism of the art form and Hong Kong as a hub for arts and cultural exchanges between China and the rest of the world.
14-15/6 7:30pm
16/6 2:30pm
Cyrano de Bergerac – A Cantonese Opera Interpretation
Playwright, Director and Artistic Director: Law Ka-ying
Ensemble Leader and Designer: Pang Kam-shun
Percussion Leader: Yau Lung
Lighting Designer: Leo Siu
Script Consultant: Dominic Cheung Ho-kin
Set Designer: Joshua Yuen
Main Cast: Law Ka-ying, Liza Wang, Sun Kim Long, Wan Yuk-yu, Lui Hung-kwong, Wong Hai-wing
Word from the Playwright
I have adapted and created many Cantonese Operas in recent years, such as King Li Guang, Empress Dowager Cixi and Princess Deling and The Asura Judgement. My inspiration comes from movies, stage plays, and even Shakespearean classics. With these accumulated experiences, I grew increasingly determined to adapt Cyrano de Bergerac into a Cantonese Opera. Frankly, this is a mammoth task for me since each staging of Cantonese Opera requires strict adherence to tonal patterns and rhyme schemes.
The original story of Cyrano de Bergerac tells of a love that blossoms through the exchange of letters during the Franco-Spanish War. In my version, I set the backdrop to the Tumu Crisis of the Ming dynasty in 1449.
The story elaborates on how Zhu Bufan, the captain of the Shenji Camp, and his best friend Zhu Yihao both fall in love with the talented and beautiful princess Xu Qishan. Bufan, embarrassed by his unusually large nose, hesitates to confess his love to her while Yihao, though handsome and debonair, is naturally shy and cannot pluck up the courage to approach the princess. Seeing this, Bufan offers to pen letters in Yihao’s name and these letters become the bittersweet revelation of his heart. Thus, a captivating love story unfolds from this.
Synopsis
The big nose Zhu Bufan falls in love with Princess Xu Qishan along with his best friend Zhu Yihao. Yihao, though handsome, is shy by nature, so Bufan offers to write love letters on his behalf. These letters carry Bufan's heartfelt feelings, which deeply move Qishan.
Later, Yihao dies in battle, and Qishan goes to a convent for retreat. Bufan regularly visits her and during one visit, Qishan greets a heavily injured Bufan and discovers that he can recite Yihao’s letters. She finally recognises the true heart behind the writings. Bufan confesses his love and eventualIy passes away without regrets.
The running time of each performance is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes including an intermission of 15 minutes.
