PROMOTERS for Sherry Cheng Huei-mei's Hong Kong concerts at the old Kai Tak runway should have learned by now that it takes more than just chairs and fancy tickets to put on a good show at that open-air venue. Perhaps greed had a part to play in what must surely have been one of Cheng's most disastrous outings so far. Chairs were placed so far to the left and right sides of the stage - with equipment and seat signs blocking the view - that the occupants might as well have been watching the show from Chek Lap Kok. Little wonder then that within 15 minutes most of the people from the sides and back had converged so near the stage that it became dangerous to carry on and a 15-minute break had to be called for. There were also calls for refunds as disgruntled fans left in disgust. A pity the last shows at Kai Tak had to end this way.
Warbler Wong begins her long goodbye OK, Faye Wong fans . . . you have had an early warning. The alternative Canto-pop diva has announced that she intends to retire from the business in five years, adding that her affinity with her fans was always meant to be a short one. Besides, the diva said, her only reason for carrying on was so that her life could be free of material worries. Since the 30-year-old now has everything she could ask for, she does not think there is much else to strive for - except perhaps a new love. Wong, whose marriage to mainland rocker Dao Wei has ended, has apparently vented her feelings on her new album Only Love A Stranger, many of whose songs appear to have been written with her unfaithful ex-husband in mind! Jackson helps Yu kick-start career DESPITE a lacklustre start to his Hollywood career with the sci-fi fantasy Warriors Of Virtue, director Ronny Yu Yan-tai seems to have bounced back. Last year, he directed the hysterical horror-comedy Chucky's Bride and has just signed on to direct Pulp Fiction and Deep Blue Sea star Samuel L Jackson in a new action-comedy, The 51st State. Jackson, who says he is a huge Hong Kong film fan, is largely responsible for bringing Yu on board the project, on which Jackson will double as producer. The story is about a street-wise master chemist who tries to set up one last big deal so that he can get out of the dope business.
Tong keeps loyal cast and crew sweet IN the second season of Martial Law - which will probably not make it here before next year - viewers will probably see lots of smiling faces. The reason? The show's first season had such good ratings, and corresponding advertising revenue, that executive producer Stanley Tong Kwai-lai has negotiated a pay rise for everyone. Understandably, star Sammo Hung Kam-po is very happy at his increased fortune but probably no more so than the stunt people working hard behind the scenes.
