From a media release:
Love, Opera & Espionage:
Summerworks’ First Chinese language Production
Mr. Shi and His Lover
Presented as part of SummerWorks Performance Festival, August 4-14, 2016
TORONTO – The North American premiere of Mr. Shi and His Lover will touch down at the SummerWorks Performance Festival in August 2016. Featuring an international cast and performed entirely in Mandarin with English surtitles, this vivid contemporary Chinese music theatre piece created by artists from Toronto and Macau marks the firstever Chineselanguage production in the Festival’s 26year history.
Inspired by the enigmatic reallife story of a Chinese opera performer and his French Diplomat lover who believed him to be a woman, this intimate twohander reimagines the characters’ innermost thoughts to illuminate their mysterious affair and the ensuing espionage scandal that rocked the political world in the 1980s. Stylistically varied and emotionally rich, the score draws inspiration from opera, musical, and vintage popular music from both East and West.
Praised by the Taiwanese press as “gentle and elegant, yet possesses a determination that dares to dream”, Mr. Shi and His Lover is a collaboration between Macau playwright Wong Teng Chi (Amsterdam Études, Hiu Kok), director Johnny Tam (Golden Dragon, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center) and Toronto composer Njo Kong Kie (Infinity, Volcano/Tarragon; knotty together and La Señorita Mundo, SummerWorks; Picnic in the Cemetery, Edinburgh Fringe).
Mr. Shi and His Lover offers a rare opportunity for Canadian audiences to revel in the beauty, passion and rich storytelling of modern Chinese music theatre. Featuring Jordan Cheng (Art School Musical, Edward Lam Dance Theatre) as Mr. Shi and Derek Kwan (Blood Wedding, Aluna Theatre/Modern Times; The Lesson of Da Ji, Toronto Masque Theatre) as his lover, this SummerWorks Special Presentation is a coproduction by Music Picnic, Macau Experimental Theatre, and Point View Art Association.
Music Picnic is a music and theatre production company led by Torontobased pianist and composer Njo Kong Kie. His compositions have reached music, theatre, and dance audiences internationally.
Macau Experimental Theatre is a nonprofit theatre company with the mission to promote local theatrical art and enhance performers’ professionalism and techniques. Formerly known as the Horizon Theatre (Macau), MET was founded in 2008 and has presented more than 30 productions to date.
Point View Art Association is a nonprofit arts and cultural organization based in Macau. Its mandate includes the production of arts and cultural creations, the promotion of arts education and research, audience development, and exchange and international collaboration.
SummerWorks Performance Festival is Canada’s largest curated performance festival of theatre, dance, music, and live art. From the first Thursday of every August and running for 11 days, SummerWorks takes over Queen Street West in a celebration of new and essential Canadian voices.
Love, Opera & Espionage:
Summerworks’ First Chinese language Production
Mr. Shi and His Lover
Presented as part of SummerWorks Performance Festival, August 4-14, 2016
TORONTO – The North American premiere of Mr. Shi and His Lover will touch down at the SummerWorks Performance Festival in August 2016. Featuring an international cast and performed entirely in Mandarin with English surtitles, this vivid contemporary Chinese music theatre piece created by artists from Toronto and Macau marks the firstever Chineselanguage production in the Festival’s 26year history.Inspired by the enigmatic reallife story of a Chinese opera performer and his French Diplomat lover who believed him to be a woman, this intimate twohander reimagines the characters’ innermost thoughts to illuminate their mysterious affair and the ensuing espionage scandal that rocked the political world in the 1980s. Stylistically varied and emotionally rich, the score draws inspiration from opera, musical, and vintage popular music from both East and West.
Praised by the Taiwanese press as “gentle and elegant, yet possesses a determination that dares to dream”, Mr. Shi and His Lover is a collaboration between Macau playwright Wong Teng Chi (Amsterdam Études, Hiu Kok), director Johnny Tam (Golden Dragon, Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center) and Toronto composer Njo Kong Kie (Infinity, Volcano/Tarragon; knotty together and La Señorita Mundo, SummerWorks; Picnic in the Cemetery, Edinburgh Fringe).
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| Jordan Cheng and Derek Kwan |
Music Picnic is a music and theatre production company led by Torontobased pianist and composer Njo Kong Kie. His compositions have reached music, theatre, and dance audiences internationally.
Macau Experimental Theatre is a nonprofit theatre company with the mission to promote local theatrical art and enhance performers’ professionalism and techniques. Formerly known as the Horizon Theatre (Macau), MET was founded in 2008 and has presented more than 30 productions to date.
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| Jordan Cheng as Mr Shi |
SummerWorks Performance Festival is Canada’s largest curated performance festival of theatre, dance, music, and live art. From the first Thursday of every August and running for 11 days, SummerWorks takes over Queen Street West in a celebration of new and essential Canadian voices.
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