SUPPLEMENT
Hongkong Daily Press.
Registered as a Newspaper at the General Post Ofoe in the United Kingdom,
ESTABLISHED 1837 蚵仔
16-19 Marina House, 'Queen's Road Central. G.P.O. Box No. 1.
HONGKONG, MONDAY, MAY, 29. 1939.
Public Promised Rare
Treat With
Presentation
Of Popular Chinese Plays
Mr. Chung XI Yuen as "Wong Won,” Miss Lan Oi Loen as "Maid," Mrs. George Lau as "Sablo Clcada," Mr. John Yuen az *Tung Chuck
The public will soon be given a rare treat when the Hongkong Chinese Theatre Group, under the aus- pices of the Chinese Women's Soldiers "Relief Asso-" ciation presents the two popular Chinese plays “Sable Cicada" on June 1 and 3 and "Dream of the Red Chamber" on June 2 and 4-at 8 p.m. at the Tai Ping Theatre. The object is to raise funds in aid of war relief.
The producer is Mrs. Rose Tam, chairman of the Association, whilst the casts of the two plays consist of well-known members of local society, who have ar- duously been rehearsing for over six months under the supervision of leading directors and famed artistes of the Chinese stage-Mr. OʻYang Yu-chen, Mr. Sit Kok-sin, Mr. Chen Shi-lün, Misses Violet and Law Shun Hing.
Every male member of the cast is carefully select- ed to suit his or her role and no expense has been spared to make the settings as elaborate as possible. These productions are the most ambitious ever at- tempted in amateur theatricals locally, and, judging from the high standard of acting and singing seen at rehearsals, they no doubt will take Hongkong by storm,
"Sable Cicada" is a play of much repute based on a patriotic theme “during the time of turmoil in the Han Dynasty and the "Dream of the Red Chamber "" is a romance which centres round the grandeur of Chinese family life.
44
Nowadays, historical plays are seldom produced in this part of China so the public should welcome these two. Foreigners who wish to see Chinese operas as they should be produced should not miss this op- portunity of attending the Taiping Theatre off the nights of June 1-4
The plight of the Chinese refugees is well-known and need not be repeated here. It is hoped therefore that the public will respond generously to this appeal.
DREAM OF THE RED stay, there are a number of young. CHAMBER SYNOPSIS ally love with every one of attractive girls, and he is practi- "Dream of the Red Chamber" them, besides being in love also a famous Chinese romantic tale with the numerous other pretty It tells of the love between Gaz maid servants. Thus, he is unable Po Yuk and Lim Doi Yuk.
to concentrate his attentions to The latter, a fine, sensitive girl, Dot Yuk, much to the heroine's is a very good match for the rich, SOFTOW.
handsome boy, but their love Particularly attached to Po Yuk affair does not and in happy union la a cousin by the name of 81 because of the interference of his Po Chai, and thus a triangular grandmother, the matriarch, and romance develops. The matriarch because of an environment which dictates that Po Yuk should marry leads him to a life of dissipation Po Chat, and as soon as the "en- Po Yuk is a member of a large gagement is announced Dof Tek family, and their house is often dies from a broken heart Learn visited by relatives near and ing of this, Po Yuk leaves the
come to house and joing a monastery.
Among
The story reveals, incidentally. the imperfectpets and the decay of Chinese family re
Dramatized, the story is divided into several acts. First, Dal Yuk and Po Chai and other relatives are welcomed to the family man- sion of Yun and Nin. Po Chai |ther appears in a scene" making an offering to the god of flowers, during which she playfully chases butterfies. Dol Yuk is then shown in a moment of despair, when she buries flower petals. Ching Man Keigna anger by tearing a fan into shreds. Shi Sheung Wan sleep's [amongst roses. Po Yuk's sister; Char. Yuen Chuen, the Imperial concubine, comes to her family for a visit and celebrates Fo Yuk's birthday.
Sable Cicada
Synopsis
"Sable Cicada” is an historical play full of historical teachings. In the Han Dynasty, the notorious traitor, Tung Chuck, then Prine Minister, was playing havoc, with the people, while the Emperor Hip was powerless and, was, in fact.) under his swNY.
Aware of the nation's danger, Wong Wen, a civil officer, conal- dered long how to cope with the situation, but realised that as long as Tung Chuck's adopted son, Lu Po, stood by the Prime Minister nothing could be done. The young man' was a brave general and the best fighter in the land.
At last, Wong Wen devised a plan to tempt both father and son with his beautiful maid. Sable Cicada. The scheme †was a success; Tung Chuck and Lu Po fell out in their struggle for possession of the beauty, with the result that the traitor lost his life at the hands of his son
The play evolves as follows:- First, Sable Cicada observes her master's unhappiness and worships the moon in the depth of night, praying for guidance to relieve him from worry..
Wong Wen, who happens to be walking by, overhears her prayers, and is greatly moved by her devo- tions,
He trankly tells her of the pre- carious condition of the Dynasty and the unscrupulousness of the usurper, Tung Chuck, and suggests a plan by which she may be of ser- vice to the nation. She agrees to his plan
He, therefore, invites Tung Chuck and his son, separately, for a feast, and promises each the hand of Bable Cicada. A few days later, she is sent to Tung Chuck to be his concubine. Lu Po is surprised- to find her when he calls on his father the next morning. him, he calls her out to the Feng Thinking that she is meant for Pavillon to straighten out nistters, but Tung Chuck follows them and a quarrel between the two men ensues.
La Fo takes Wong Wen to task for breaking his promise, but the latter Bares him that the girl was intended for him but wala taken by force by his father. Taged, La Po resolves to kin Chuck as soon 28
moment arrives. And just as the trattor overgehak
glee
in the eller that the king lasat
throne, him to his death.
Mrs. George Lan as “Sable Cicada.
Mr. laa Tong San as age
In the ́and · senda
Mrs. Georgs Las
Clenda."