Fringe News
Fringe News
Inspired by the real-life story of a Chinese opera performer and his French Diplomat lover who believed him to be a woman - this intimate music theatre performance illuminates their enigmatic affair and the ensuing espionage scandal that rocked the political world in the 1980s. Stylistically varied and emotionally rich, the score takes its inspirations from opera, musical and vintage pop from both East and West.
This is SummerWorks’ first-ever Chinese language production and is a collaboration between Macau playwright Wong Teng Chi, director Johnny Tam and Toronto composer Njo Kong Kie (Infinity, Volcano/Tarragon; knotty together and La Señorita Mundo, SummerWorks; Picnic in the Cemetery, Edinburgh Fringe).
Featuring an international cast from Taiwan and Macau accompanied by an ensemble of piano, marimba and Chinese percussion, the work will be performed entirely in Mandarin with English surtitles.
This is a unique opportunity to catch the contemporary work from Macau, praised by the Taiwanese press as “gentle and elegant, yet possesses a determination that dares to dream”. Come revel in the beauty, passion and rich storytelling of modern Chinese Theatre.
Production History:
The work was commissioned by the Macau Experimental Theatre in 2013 and developed over a series of workshops in Macau and Beijing, culminating in performances in Taiwan in November 2015. The SummerWorks performances will be our first outside the Chinese-speaking regions and it will be our first full-scale production in a theatre setting.
SummerWorks show schedule and venue:
Aug 5th, 8 pm;
Aug 6th, 9:15 pm;
Aug 7th, 6:30 pm;
Aug 8th, 9 pm;
Aug 11th, 5:15 pm;
Aug 12th, 10:15 pm;
Aug 13, 1:15 pm
Show duration is approximately 80 minutes.
Theatre Centre Mainspace, 1115 Queen Street West, Toronto.
Njo Kong Kie, Composer/Music Director/Piano
Kong Kie considers himself a theatre-maker, a performer and a composer. Born in Indonesia, and currently based in Canada, Kong Kie was for many years the pianist/music director of Montreal-based dance company La La La Human Steps. Music from Picnic in the cemetery, his album of original compositions, has been used on multiple dance performances by companies such as Nederlands Dans Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet National de L’Opéra du Rhin and Ballet BC. Other composer credits include knotty together with Anna Chatterton (opera), La Señorita Mundo with Kico Gonzalez-Risso (opera), Picnic in the cemetery (concert-as-theatre), Infinity with Hannah Moscovitch (play) and the upcoming The Year of the Cello with Marjorie Chan (play). Kong Kie also creates soundtrack to dance, short films and performances. www.musicpicnic.com
2016-05-13
SummerWorks: Mr and His Lover 時先生與他的情人