The Eight Immortals' Adventures
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall Dec 18-19, 8pm; Dec 19, 3pm
Having been away from the Hong Kong performing arts scene for two years to get her master's degree in directing and actor training in Britain, actress Fung Wai-hang returns to the stage this weekend as a guest performer, playing eight characters at the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's upcoming concert The Eight Immortals' Adventures.
Based on a Chinese folk legend about eight deities with magical powers, this 'musical narrative' revolves around their fantastic journey to the East Sea after celebrating the birthday of the Queen Mother of the West.
'I'm also the narrator so I'll be telling the story with help from puppeteers and even some of the musicians,' says Fung, now resident director of the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, a company she has been with since 1988.
'This being a very lively story bustling with noise and boisterous excitement, it is perfect for Chinese orchestral interpretation.'
The eight-scene musical narrative, composed by Alfred Wong, will be conducted by the orchestra's Chew Hee Chiat while Roy Szeto Wai-cheuk, Fung's colleague at the HKRep, will take care of the dramatic elements of the show.
When the Eight Immortals cross the East Sea, the Dragon King captures one of them. To save him, the other deities gatecrash the Dragon Palace at the bottom of the sea.
All the drama will be expressed through acting, puppetry and music provided by the 80-member orchestra. 'This is quite a challenge for me because I have never performed with puppets before,' says Fung (above), the first Hong Kong artist to be awarded a Magnolia Award for Performing Arts on the mainland in 2004.
'I hope through this performance the audience will get to see how action can be complemented by music and vice versa.'
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