A New Cantonese Opera “The Asura Judgment”
Xiqu
Description
Description
The story takes place towards the end of the Ming dynasty. The country is ravaged by natural and man-made disasters, and the people suffered dearly. A murder is committed at a small seaside county in the south. The Tiger Tail Mountain may be under the imperial government’s rule, but the towering trees and rugged landscape provide excellent cover for brigands and robbers. One day around noon, Dongfang Yu and his wife Zhu are passing through the mountain when they are accosted by the solitary brigand Huyan Bao. Bao sees the woman and immediately lusts after her, and he forces himself upon her after restraining her husband. Surprisingly, Bao falls in love with Zhu after the fact and wants to take her away with him. The two men fight over her. In the end, Yu is killed while Zhu flees during the commotion. Bao takes Yu’s sword and horse and leaves. By a curious twist of fate, he passes out after drinking poisoned water from the river, and is captured by bailiffs. A farmer finds Yu’s body while a monk saves Zhu, and they both report to the authorities.
During the trial, Bao admits that it was all his doing and proudly pleads guilty. However, Zhu tearfully recalls that Yu had refused to forgive her after she was raped by Bao, so she drew her dagger to threaten him. She fainted, and woke to find her husband dead. She was about to commit suicide by throwing herself into the river, but was rescued by the monk.
The magistrate enlists the help of a medium to take Yu’s statement from the netherworld. The latter pours his heart out：he felt helpless at being unable to save Zhu from being raped; it also tore him apart to see his wife showing an attachment for the brigand. Consumed with shame, the teary man saw the dagger and slit his own throat with it.
The farmer Ou Yang, however, tells a different version of the story：after violating Zhu, Bao went down on his knees and begged for her forgiveness, promising to turn over a new leaf and stay by her side forever. She told Bao that she would go with him if he killed her husband. She also told Yu to prove that he was a man by killing the brigand. The two men fought to prove their courage, and it ended with Yu dead.
Monk Hongding laments, “What is true, and what is false? Can we still bring ourselves to trust in others? Without trust among people, wouldn’t it be the same as living in hell? Where has our humanity gone?” Suddenly, the cries of an abandoned baby are heard from behind the Asura Palace. What kind of ending will the infant usher in?
Artistic Director/ Playwright ：Law Ka-ying
Music Designer：Tam Siu-wai
Assistant Music Designer：Yimen Ho
Lighting Designer：Leo Siu
Costume Designer：Leung Yuet-wai
Set Designer：Ho Chun
Percussion Leader：Yau Lung
Ensemble Leader：Pang Kam-shun
Manager：Yuen Ying-wah
Stage Manager：So Chi-cheong
Lighting and Set：Kwong Hing Stage Scene Production Company
Costume and Props：Everlasting Star Costume
General Affairs：Chen Kin-yat
Leaflet Information and Surtitles Translation：KCL Language Consultancy Limited
Info
$180
$360
Indoor
Local
