Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2024 returns by popular demand

Relaunching the Jiānghú comedic mode
Scapin challenges the world of flying swords and earth-defying leaps yet again
Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2024

 
【HKRep】Last year, Scapin in Jiāngú, Chap. 2023 brought uproarious laughter to the world of martial arts as theatre audiences were tickled time and again by the antics of “small potato” Scapin and clan members of Dragon Slay and Tiger Crush. The play also garnered six major accolades at the 32^nd Hong Kong Drama Awards, including Best Production, Best Director (Comedy/Farce), Best Actor (Comedy/Farce), Best Supporting Actor (Comedy/Farce), Best Image Design and Outstanding Production of the Year. This year, Scapin in Jiāngú, Chap. 2024 returns by popular demand. Adapted from Molière’s Les Fourberies de Scapin (Scapin the Schemer), the setting, characters and dialogue are transplanted to the world of martial arts, where Scapin remains the loyal servant dedicated to solving crises and doing his utmost to save his young masters. Scapin in Jiāngú, Chap. 2024 is written by HKRep Assistant Artistic Director Fong Chun Kit and Kwok Wing Hong, directed by Fong Chun Kit, with dramaturgy by Yu Tingzhi, featuring Eddy Au Yeung, Yu Hon Ting, Ng Ka Leung, Kalok Chan, Chan Kiu, Dee To, Chow Chi Fai, Tunes Ting, Vivian Chan, ManMan Kwok and Trickle Choi. The production runs between 27th September and 6th October at the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre. Tickets are available now from URBTIX outlets.
 
Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2024: The Dragon Slay and Tiger Crush clans have been sworn enemies for generations, at loggerheads for a century with no clear winner or loser. On the day of their annual battle, the two clan leaders suddenly announce arranged marriages for their sons (marrying the respective daughters of their former enemies). The two young men are devastated over their imminent weddings, lamenting they cannot choose their true love. House servant Scapin pities the two young men, thus offering to save them from their plights with countless devious plots.
 
Playwright and Director Fong Chun Kit states, “There was tremendous response at our initial run with such audience enthusiasm, that this French farce dating from centuries ago could be adapted today with plotlines and dialogue so close to everyday life, finding resonance with theatregoers today. We’ve continued to refine the script with the aim not just of inciting laughter, but bringing morsels of wisdom to our audience. At the same time, we dedicate ourselves to elevating stage effects, bringing even more dazzle to the eye.”
 
Playwright Kwok Wing Hong says, “To bring the story even closer to Hong Kong audiences, we’ve chosen to reference popular characters from local films and martial arts novels, just as Molière’s original alludes to commedia dell’arte, enabling our audiences to enter seamlessly into such fantastical worlds. 
 
This finished product is ‘our’ collective effort: despite borrowing the main premise, we’ve moved far from Molière’s classic. I’m not claiming our adaptation in any way surpasses the French master’s original, but comedy always concerns the here and now, and our ‘here and now’ is our shared culture. Through contemporary language, we hope to invite our audience to fully participate in the theatrical experience.”
 
The 32nd Hong Kong Drama Awards
※Best Production
※Best Director (Comedy/Farce)  –  Fong Chun Kit
※Best Actor (Comedy/Farce)  – Eddy Au Yeung
※Best Supporting Actor (Comedy/Farce)  – Yu Hon Ting
※Best Image Design – Jan Wong, Ainsley So
※Outstanding Production of the Year

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 19^th Taishin Arts Award. 
 
Kwok’s recent output includes such plays as Scapin in Jiānghú, Chap. 2023, 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 After Life, 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 Theatre Literature Manager.

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