BackUOB Kay Hian proudly sponsors “Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2023”
02.06.2023
Immediate Release
Reshaping a Molière classic,
adding martial arts ingredients to a romantic farce
UOB Kay Hian proudly sponsors Scapin in Jiāngú, Chap. 2023
【HKRep】Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2023, a fusion of French farce and Hong Kong-style martial arts, adapts Molière’s Les Fourberies de Scapin from the background, characters and dialogue of 17th-century France to the Chinese wuxia world of flying swords and earth-defying leaps. In this rarefied Jiānghú, fighting skills rule. So how does a house servant with zero physical training help his masters get out of trouble? Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2023 is jointly written by Fong Chun Kit and Kwok Wing Hong, with Fong Chun Kit as director and Yu Tingzhi as dramaturg, featuring Eddy Au Yeung, Chris Sun (Cast ※), Yu Hon Ting (Cast ○), Ko Hon Man (Cast ※), Ng Ka Leung (Cast ○), Kalok Chan, Chan Kiu, Chow Chi Fai, Vivian Chan, Tunes Ting, Dee To, ManMan Kwok and Trickle Choi in the cast. This production runs from 8th to 23rd July at the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre. Tickets are now available at URBTIX outlets.
Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2023 is about two young leaders of a martial arts clan commit to marry their true loves. But because the ladies do not come from the right stock, the elders forbid both unions. These men may be equipped with the best fighting skills, but they are powerless under the circumstances. So they ask for help from their house servant Scapin (played by Eddy Au Yeung) —a man with no physical training whatsoever, yet wily in his ways. Will Scapin succeed with his countless ploys, or will the schemes backfire?
Playwright and director Fong Chun Kit states, “Molière’s Les Fourberies de Scapin is cast as commedia dell’arte and features many interesting characters ideally suitable for adaptation. I believe injecting Jiānghú role-types into this play can generate even more comedic moments. Scapin is the only person with no physical skills among all of the characters. In a world where the fist overpowers everything else, how can Scapin outsmart others, thus helping the Master’s son to find true love?”
Playwright Kwok Wing Hong adds, “Jiānghú is a setting unique to Hong Kong popular culture; it is very close to us. Comedy doesn’t have to follow any set rules, which makes it close to the nature of Jiānghú. By setting this story in the martial arts world, our audience can quickly immerse themselves in the dramatic scenario. Comedies often depict how a nobody struggles to survive in society. This is also the message in our adaptation, utilising an approachable way to interact and connect with audiences.”
The cast of Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2023 will do their utmost to portray commedia dell’arte characters, emblazoning into this Molière something cast in the unique style of a martial arts epic! The audience will learn about human dilemma through Scapin’s plots and ploys, appreciating this classic amidst hearty laughter.
About Playwright and Director Fong Chun Kit
About Playwright Kwok Wing Hong
Kwok Wing Hong is a graduate of the School of Drama of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) with a Master of Fine Arts (Honours) in Playwriting. While at the HKAPA, he was awarded a Sam Leung’s Studio scholarship; he was also a three-time recipient of the Cheung Tat Ming Playwriting Scholarship. Kwok’s Principle was nominated for Best Script at the 2018 Hong Kong Theatre Libre Awards and 2019 Hong Kong Drama Awards; he was nominated for Best Playwright at the 2019 Shanghai One Drama Awards. The screening version of Principle was awarded Best Script for the Hong Kong region at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards. At the 2019 Hong Kong Theatre Libre Awards, his True Lies won Best Script. Later, he was nominated for “Script/Playwright of the Year” at the 2020 IATC(HK) Critics Awards. The State & Denki, a musical script he co-wrote with Hsu Cheng-ping, was among the finalists at the 19th Taishin Arts Award.
Kwok’s recent output includes such plays as Landing to Blossom and Principle (HKRep), True Lies (Poor Guy Diary), The Advocate (Chung Ying Theatre), The Courage to be Disliked (Theatre Farm) and the musical The State & Denki (Our Theatre x Theatre Space). His translated scripts include The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui and Mourning Becomes Electra (New Directors’ Movement, Theatre Horizon) and The Beauty Queen of Leenane (Project Roundabout).
Kwok Wing Hong currently serves as the HKRep’s New Works and Literary Officer.
About Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2023
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