2004 Zhong Pi Ni Chang Ge Bian Che

Literal English Translation: Raise the rainbow costume, Lift the song through time

(Pinyin: zhong pi ni chang ge bian che)
重披霓裳歌遍徹
Cung Pei Ngai Soeng Go Bin Cit

presented by Yam/Pak Charitable Foundation Limited (source: Crown Record Co., Ltd CD cover)

This is a very special live performance of Cantonese Opera excerpts performed by the best and brightest students of Yam Kim Fai and Pak Suet Sin’s Chor Fung Ming Opera Troupe on the occasion to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the death of Yam Kim Fai and in supporting of Yam/Pak Charitable Foundation Limited.

Part 1. Opening Title - Forever Yam Kim Fai 永遠的任劍輝 (1913~1989)
A short slide show featuring documentary pictures of Ms. Yam's life and work through time

Part 2. Program Introduction
Host of the evening, Lydia Shum Din Ha, welcomes the audience and guests including an honored guest, Ms. Pak Suet Sin.

Shortly after Lydia giving a run down of the planned Cantonese Opera excerpts together with the performers' name in each segment, the performance for the night is then officially started!

Part 3. Cantonese Opera excerpt I: Butterfly and the Red Pear Blossom ~ Ending Reward 蝶影紅梨記之酬願 Dip Jeng Gung Lei Gei Zi Cau Jyun

Script by Tong Tik Sang - performed by Chu Kim Dan and Tse Suet Sum.

Part 4. Cantonese Opera excerpt II: The Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom ~ Chance Encounter 再世紅梅記之折梅巧遇 Zoi Sai Gung Mui Gei Zi Zit Mui Haau Jyu

Script by Tong Tik Sang - performed by Connie Chan Po Chu and Mui Suet See.

Part 5. Cantonese Opera excerpt III: The Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom ~ Save Pui 再世紅梅記之脫阱救裴 Zoi Sai Gung Mui Gei Zi Tyut Zing Gau Pui

Script by Tong Tik Sang - performed by Lung Kim Sang, Mui Suet See and supported by Yam Bing Yi 任冰兒 (Yam Kim Fai's younger sister), Chu Kim Dan.

Part 6. The Curtain Call
Lydia Shum thanks the audience on behalf of the entire cast and Yam/Pak Charitable Foundation Limited for their supports of the show as well as the charity event. She is then introducing Ms. Pak who spoke fondly of her beloved stage's partner Ms. Yam.

Yam/Pak's students get back to stage for their final bows only after gestured in touching the empty chair laid with a red rose, which was specifically positioning on the center stage, in commemorating the presence of Yam Kim Fai.

Part 7. Behind-the-Scenes Highlights

• Yam/Pak’s students and friends speak with gratitude and fondness in thanking and reminiscing of their teacher and friend, Yam Kim Fai.
• Back stage footages of the cast rehearing for the performance, participating in the praying ceremony before the show and gathering for group picture as they were leaving stage after the performance
• More on slide show of Yam Kim Fai and Pak Suet Sin back in the good old days including stills from movies they made together as well as Cantonese stage operas that they had performed with the Sin Fung Ming Opera Troupe.

* * *

Produced in 2004, the show was well put together in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of Yam Kim Fai’s death. What is more appropriate to remember one’s beloved sister, stage’s partner, teacher and friend by putting on a show to showcase excerpts from the Cantonese Opera classics that Ms. Yam once raised the stage. Those excerpts were performed by none other than Ms. Yam’s very own students: Lung Kim Sang, Mui Suet See, Connie Chan, Chu Kim Dan and Tse Suet Sum as a way to pay respect in thanking their teacher. Moreover, it is also a charity show in supporting for the continuation of the art.

Although this is the show that officially kicked off it all for a series of returning to stage production of complete Cantonese Opera classics “Dream of the West Chamber” in 2005 and “Princess Chang Ping” in 2006, I bought and watched the DVD recording of this show last, only after finished viewing “Princess Chang Ping” and “Dream of the West Chamber”, respectively.

It's great to see more of Lung Kim Sang and Mui Suet See’s performances. It confirms that they are the best among Cantonese Opera artists and they do live up to be called Yam/Pak’s successors.

The performance marks Ms. Lung Kim Sang’s returning to stage after 12 years of retiring from stage since 1992. Through her superb acting and singing in the third segment, it is surprising to learn that Ms. Lung had been away from stage for such a long time.

As for Ms. Mui Suet See, she acted and sang well in both segments; the first along side Connie Chan Po Chu and the second opposite her long time stage’s partner, Lung Kim Sang. It’s hard to pick the character of which segments that she played best since they are both very different and that Ms. Mui played them both superlatively; one is an adorable young Chiu Yung with uttering cuteness while the other one is an ill-fated spirit Lee Wai Leung with much sadness and maturity.

It is also the first time I have a chance to watch Ms. Connie Chan performed in full Cantonese Opera’s make up and all. And, she did manage it competently.

Yet, not to mention Chu Kim Dan and Tse Suet Sum together with the supporting singers/dancers, they did a great job in opening the show with an excerpt from the "Butterfly and the Red Pear Blossom".

* * *

Overall, I enjoy the show and that I’m happy with the technical aspects of the DVD recording released by Crown Records. (Though, the missing English subtitles would be a nice addition.) It is always a joy to learn more about Cantonese Opera, especially Yam/Pak’s legacy.

My personal pick for the favorite song must be the ending song from the second excerpt. Of course, the best segment must be the performance from Lung, Mui, Yam and Chu in the third/last excerpt; whereas, the appearance of Lee Wai Leung's ghost/spirit and the finale ending fight scene put "The Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom ~ Save Pui" over the top.

Notes:
For those who are not very familiar with the story/plot of the referencing Cantonese Opera classics (like Mei, myself :), I have researched the following information to share with us all:

Reference Excerpt I - Scholar Yu-chau becomes the Number One Scholar and gets reunited with So-chau.

Synopsis of "Butterfly and the Red Pear Blossom"

"Famed courtesan Tse So-chau comes to admire Chiu Yu-chau by reading his literary works during their three-year correspondence. Their final rendezvous in the monastery during the Lantern Festival cannot take place because So-chau is ordered back by the Prime Minister. Treacherous minister Wong Fu forces her to marry a barbaric king in an attempt to cement diplomatic relationship. Yu-chau plunges into despondency not knowing that So-chau has successfully extricated herself by faking her death.

Eventually, a butterfly steers Yu-chau's way to see So-chau, who chooses not to reveal her true self but to assume the identity of a ghost to urge Yu-chau to concentrate on his studies. Upon becoming the Number One Scholar, Yu-chau punishes Fu and marries So-chau."

-- from the Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) http://ipac.hkfa.lcsd.gov.hk

Reference Excerpt II - Scholar Pui Jyu 裴禹 went to pick plum blossoms and coincidentally ran into Chiu Yung, whose look is in resemblance of Lee Wai Leung, whom he met and fell in love with.

Reference Excerpt III - Pui Jyu gets to know the story of Lee Wai Leung's death as her spirit appears to him. They also learn about their true love for each other. That night, Lee Wai Leung was there to warn Pui Jyu of harm coming his way and to help him fending away the evil work ordered by the government official.

Read more about "The Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom" at: http://www.moviefanprincess.com/plumblossom.html
It's a review of the 1968 film adaptation of Tong Tik Sang's The Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom Cantonese Opera. The movie starred Connie Chan, Nam Hung and Leung Sing Po.

Credits and/or Citations:
The above photo references are sourced from Crown Record Co., Ltd's 2004 Zhong Pi Ni Chang Ge Bian Che CD booklet.