Sentimental Journey

Sentimental Journey, Academy for Performing Arts Lyric Theatre, March 7, 8pm Two women . . . their friendship with a man and the contribution of all three to the world of Cantonese opera. That basically sums up the story of Springtime Stage Productions' latest extravaganza, Sentimental Journey.

And extravagant it certainly is, from cast to resplendent costumes. Based on the true story of Cantonese opera legends Pak Suet-sin and the late Yam Kim-fai, Sentimental Journey marks the return of former screen princess Chan Po-chu to the performing arts after an absence of 27 years - and it was worth the wait.

Chan reminded the audience once again why she was one of the top actresses in Hong Kong in the 1960s and 70s. As her late si fu (mentor) Yam - one of the best known male impersonators of all time - Chan's regal carriage and opera training stood her in good ground but it was the actor who shone through.

One of her most powerful scenes is the grand finale for Yam in the opera Lee Hau Ju and is one where she says nothing. Standing at the bridge waiting to meet her 'death', all the emotional turmoil is said with just one look.

But Sentimental Journey's success (it has a record-breaking 100-show run) as one of the grandest locally-produced stage musicals was not wholly dependent on Chan's laurels. Au Ga-man, an uncanny mirror image of Pak, managed to capture Pak's idiosyncracies - including her reputed shrewishness - yet kept her funny and likable. Her comedic timing needed no improvement as she shot barbed repartees at all around her.

Both are ably supported by a cast of great actors, led by the award-winning Tse Kwan-ho - who plays Tang Dik-sang, writer of some of the greatest hits for the Yam-Pak act - and stage veteran Leung Hon-wai, who turned his versatile talent to being narrator as well as a host of minor characters.