Canton Diva: opera/rap crossover to light up Sunbeam Theatre
Opera/rap crossover reworks classical tunes and serves as a sociopolitical satire on Hong Kong
A fung shui master and a comedian have teamed up for a wacky Cantonese opera production that promises to bring new and younger audiences to a historic theatre venue in North Point.
Li Kui-ming, also a Cantonese opera playwright, invited stage veteran Jim Chim Sui-man, best known for his comedy shows, to create an unconventional piece for the newly refurbished Sunbeam Theatre.
Li rescued the 40-year-old venue from closure at the last minute in February when he signed a four-year lease with landlord Francis Law Sau-fai, allowing him to rent the 81,000 sq ft space for HK$1 million per month. He is now running the theatre through his Prime Splendor Theatrical Troupe.
Canton Diva is a crossover between Cantonese opera classic Princess Changping and Gangnam Style, a rap hit from South Korea. The one-man show will not only give new interpretations to some classic tunes, but also serve as a sociopolitical satire.
"Jim Chim does Gangnam Style dance" Video by Hedy Bok
Chim said his parody, which opens next month, taps into society's pulse, and the alliance of "heroic characters" from local opera and screen classics in the show is a metaphor for the current situation in Hong Kong.
Li said he wanted Cantonese opera to become both creative and contemporary. "New titles are no longer about traditional values like loyalty and filial piety," he said. "I want this to be a creative venture between old and new that will appeal to a greater mass."