Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Richard Rose, Artistic Director of Tarragon Theatre, is thrilled to welcome Mr. Shi and His Lover to Tarragon Theatre this November. The work by Wong Teng Chi and Njo Kong Ki returns to Toronto in Tarragon’s Mainspace after its celebrated world premiere at the SummerWorks Performance Festival in the summer of 2016. Mr. Shi and His Lover is a Macau Experimental Theatre/Music Picnic/Point View Art Association Production. The contemporary opera runs November 7 - December 17 (opening November 15).
An espionage scandal rocks the political world in this intriguing contemporary opera about the delusion of love. Featuring performers from Toronto and Macau, Mr. Shi and His Lover illuminates the real-life affair of a French diplomat in China who falls in love with a mysterious opera singer. But is she who she says she is? This classic tale is told through music inspired by Chinese opera and vintage pop from both East and West.
Mr. Shi and His Lover is performed in Mandarin with English surtitles. A deeply felt piece, this contemporary opera is an unorthodox, intimate musical work with subtle, adept performances from the cast and creative team. This dynamic work will bring audiences political intrigue, a thought-provoking look at gender and sexuality and subtle musical performances from its original cast.
The piece tells a story reminiscent of M. Butterfly - a French diplomat falls in love with a mysterious opera singer he believes to be a woman, but is she? The SummerWorks hit features musical direction where East meets West, marrying the different styles of the Canadian and Taiwanese artists who have come together to create it, culminating in an intimate, elegantly crafted work.
“Mr. She and His Lover was a runaway hit at SummerWorks 2016 and we’re so pleased to feature it at Tarragon this season,” notes Artistic Director Richard Rose. “Mr. Shi is the first work we’ve had at Tarragon that’s performed in Mandarin and we can’t wait for Tarragon audiences to experience this beautiful contemporary opera.”
Mr. Shi and His Lover features the opera’s original cast in their Tarragon debuts, with performances by Jordan Cheng (Art School Musical, Edward Lam Dance Theatre) and Derek Kwan (Blood Wedding, Aluna Theatre/Modern Times; The Lesson of Da Ji, Toronto Masque Theatre). The piece is written by Wong Teng Chi (Amsterdam Études, Hiu Kok) and Njo Kong Ki (Infinity, Volcano/Tarragon; knotty together and La Señorita Mundo, SummerWorks; Picnic in the Cemetery, Edinburgh Fringe), with composition and musical direction from Njo Kong Ki. With direction by Tam Chi Chun (SummerWorks, Mr. Shi and His Lover)).
Mr. Shi and His Lover runs at Tarragon Theatre from November 7 - December 17, 2017, opening officially Wednesday, November 15. Following its Toronto run, Mr. Shi will travel to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa from Jan 3 - 13, 2018.
Mr. Shi and His Lover
In Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace
written by Wong Teng Chi & Njo Kong Ki
composer & music director Njo Kong Ki
directed by Tam Chi Chun
starring Jordan Cheng (Mr. Shi) & Derek Kwan (Bernard)
November 7 - December 17, 2017 (opening November 15)
An espionage scandal rocks the political world in this intriguing contemporary opera about the delusion of love. Featuring performers from Toronto and Macau, Mr. Shi and His Lover illuminates the real-life affair of a French diplomat in China who falls in love with a mysterious opera singer. But is she who she says she is? This classic tale is told through music inspired by Chinese opera and vintage pop from both East and West.
SummerWorks Performance Festival 2016 Wrap-Up: Outstanding Direction, Outstanding New Play, Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble
CAST + CREW
written by Wong Teng Chi & Njo Kong Ki
composer & music director Njo Kong Ki
directed by Tam Chi Chun
starring Jordan Cheng (Mr. Shi) & Derek Kwan (Bernard)
marimba and Chinese percussion by Yukie Lai
piano and Chinese percussion by Njo Kong Kie
lighting design by Fung Kwok Kee Gabriel
set and costume concept by Tam Chi Chun
English surtitle translation by Derek Kwan
surtitle operator Echo Zhou / Eleven Xu
stage manager Luby Lam
***
Showtimes are Tuesday - Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2:30pm, and select Saturdays at 2:30pm.
Tickets range from $22 - $60 and can be purchased online at www.tarragontheatre.com, or by phone at 416-531-1827. Discounts are available for seniors, students and groups and arts workers. Patrons under 35 & arts workers visit www.tarragontheatre.com/tarragon22.
Tarragon offers the most flexible subscription packages in the city with savings of up to 40%, allowing patrons to choose their productions, change their dates free of charge, and offering many different price points to suit all schedules and budgets. Visit the website or call Patron Services today for more information.
Rush tickets are sold for $20 cash only, in person at the theatre two hours before showtime. This year Tarragon will also be offering online rush tickets at varying discounts, 24h prior to the show. Both Rush ticket options are subject to availability.
For more information on Tarragon’s events and activities, visit www.tarragontheatre.com/calendar.
Photo: Jordan Cheng and Derek Kwan. ©2017 Chien-Che Tang.
2017-10-10
Toronto: Tarragon Theatre presents the opera "Mr. Shi and His Lover" November 7-December 17