2021.07.07
搬演《三國演義》第十九回「下邳城曹操鏖兵，白門樓呂布殞命」的故事，在香港首度上演，不容錯過。這是《三國演義》中較早期的情節，當時曹操尚為漢丞相，劉備、關公、張飛三人均在其麾下。劇中陳宮與曹操對峙時，陳宮的口白以及當中梆子慢板、中板的大段唱段，極考演員唱功，精彩可期。劇中一場「斬呂布」，亦盡顯三人性格。
曹操本與陳宮是遠年故交，但陳宮得悉曹操的為人後，毅然離開，轉投呂布。陳宮頗有謀略，但呂布不聽陳宮進言，自恃糧足留城不戰，只與嚴氏、貂蟬終日歡飲，後被侯成、魏續生擒獻曹操，而陳宮也連帶被擒。陳宮連數曹操惡行：哄殺伯奢、挾天子。在二人的唱段中，曹操的野心、惡毒本性盡顯，陳宮更複述曹操的狂言。最後陳宮為漢朝，大義赴刑。處決陳宮後，曹操便對呂布下手。呂布初為董卓旗下的猛將，但後為貂蟬殺董卓。呂布不納陳宮之言，不戰也不降，最後被生擒。呂布曾有恩於劉備，見曹操下令殺陳宮後外出祭奠，請求劉備為其向曹操求情。劉備應允，但在曹操詢問其意見時，劉備卻只道：「當初丁建陽、董卓！」曹操立下殺令，呂布嘔血道：「當日轅門射戟，替他幾乎把命喪。有恩不報，反把仇供。」
Traditional Set Pieces and Excerpts from Formulaic Plays in Cantonese Opera
Chen Gong Chastising Cao Cao from White Gate Tower
Presented by: Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Produced by: The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong
Platform: YouTube
Link: https://youtu.be/yMi_jM_Gwms
Synopsis: This is a play taken from Chapter 19 of the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ‘Cao Cao Makes Flood in Xiapi, Lu Bu Perishes at the White Gate Tower’. This Hong Kong premiere is not to be missed. The story is based on the earlier parts of Romance of the Three Kingdoms when Cao Cao is still Prime Minister of the Han court and Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are serving under him. In the pair’s heated exchange between Cao and Chen, Chen will enthrall the audience with recitations and long sung passages in bangzi manban and zhongban which require great singing skill and depth. The scene ‘Execution of Lu Bu’ also shows the very different dispositions of the three characters.
Cao Cao and Chen Gong have known each other for a long time. After gaining an insight into Cao’s character, Chen left him to join Lu Bu’s camp. Chen is a seasoned strategist but Lu does not heed his advice. Sitting on an ample food reserve, Lu stays put and refuses to go to battle. Instead he lives the good life in the company of Lady Yan and Diao Chan, ending in their capture by Hou Cheng and Wei Xu who present them as trophies to Cao. Chen is also captured along with them. Chen cites a litany of Cao’s evil deeds: killing Boshe in shameful treachery and holding the Han emperor hostage. In their sung passages, Cao’s ambitions and vile disposition unravel, with Chen revisiting Cao’s unsavoury assertions. Chen maintains his loyalty to the Han Dynasty and faces his execution with bravery and integrity. After the execution of Chen Gong, Cao Cao orders Lu Bu’s execution. Lu used to be a valiant general under Dong Zhuo but later killed him for the beautiful Diao Chan. Lu does not accept Chen’s advice, ending in his capture. Lu once saved Liu Bei; when he sees Cao mourning Chen outside after ordering the latter’s execution, he pleads with Liu to put in a good word for him. Liu agrees but when Cao asks for his opinion, he remarks, ‘Think of what happened to Ding Jianyang and Dong Zhuo!’ Cao immediately orders Lu’s execution. Lu throws up blood and says, ‘When I shot the arrow at the halberd at the camp gate to defuse a crisis, I put my life in danger. Now you repay me with spite and treachery’.
Series: Traditional Set Pieces and Excerpts from Formulaic Plays in Cantonese Opera
Scheme/ Festival: Click for Arts
Art Form: Xiqu
Artistic Director: Law Ka-ying
Cast: Law Ka-ying, Wan Yuk-yu, Kwok Chun-sing, Ng Kwok-wa, Shum Pak-chuen, Tam Wing-lun Alan, Hong Hai, Wan Chi-hung, Ng Lap-hei, Lin Xinling, Wong Hai-wing
