A Tale of 2 Cities

A Tale of 2 Cities ; 乐在双城
Genre	Idol drama ; Romance
Written by	Tang Yeow 陈耀 / Paul Yuen
Directed by	Loo Yin Kam 卢燕金
Starring	Rui En; Joanne Peh; Pierre Png; Zhang Yaodong; Mimi Chu; Zhang Zhenhuan; Kate Pang; Yao Wenlong; Julie Tan
Theme music composer	Johann Strauss
Opening theme	"Springtime Voices Waltz" by Masahiro Kawasaki
Ending theme	"Himitsu no Akko-chan" by Satoko Shimonari
Composer	Johann Strauss
Country of origin	Singapore; Malaysia
Original languages	Chinese; Subtitles; English (Singapore); Malay (Malaysia)
No. of episodes	21 episodes
Production
Executive producer	Paul Yuen 袁树伟
Production locations	Singapore; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Running time	45 minutes
Production companies	MediaCorp; Media Prima Berhad
Distributor	MediaCorp Studios; STMB
Release
Original network	MediaCorp TV Channel 8 (Singapore); NTV7 (Malaysia)
Picture format	SDTV (480i 4:3); PAL (576i 4:3); HDTV (1080i 16:9)
Audio format	Dolby Digital 5.1; Datasat Digital Sound 5.1; Sony Dynamic Digital Sound 5.1
First shown in	14 February 2011
Original release	14 February –; 11 March 2011
Chronology
Preceded by	Prosperity
Followed by	Be Happy
External links
	Website

A Tale of 2 Cities (Chinese: 乐在双城; pinyin: Lè Zài Shuāng Chéng) is a Singaporean Chinese drama which was co-produced by Media Prima Berhad and MediaCorp TV. It was telecasted on Singapore's free-to-air terrestrial television channel form MediaCorp TV Channel 8. It stars Rui En, Joanne Peh, Pierre Png, Zhang Yaodong, Mimi Chu, Zhang Zhenhuan, Kate Pang, Yao Wenlong & Julie Tan as the casts of the series. Live it made its debut on 14 February to 11 March 2011. This drama serial consists of 21-episodes and was screened on every weekday nightlife at 21:00 until 22:00 SST and rerun it made from 19 to 30 December 2011 at every weekday night at 21:00 until 22:00 SST.

It was telecasted on Malaysia's free-to-air terrestrial television channel form NTV7 channel it was telecasted on Singapore's free-to-air terrestrial television channel form MediaCorp TV Channel 8.

In Malaysia, it will be broadcast on the NTV7 primetime drama slot at every weekday evening at 18:00 until 19:00 MST it was filming locations is done in Singapore (a national capital of Singapore) and Kuala Lumpur (a national capital of Malaysia).

This drama has four main couples, namely, Rui En with Pierre Png, Joanne Peh with Zhang Yaodong, Julie Tan with Zhang Zhenhuan, and Kate Pang with Yao Wenlong. Due to a number of famous artistes acting in this drama it attracted 904,000 viewers. All episodes can be viewed in xinmsn catchup.

Episodes 6, 12, 13, 16 to 20 were rated PG in the encore version.

Synopsis

This drama tells a tale of four women, whom all has the character "乐 (lè)", meaning "happiness", in their names, namely Zhang Yale (Rui En), Pan Leyao (Joanne Peh), Lin Le (Kate Pang) and Pan Lexuan (Julie Tan). They go through many ups and downs in their respective lives, and eventually learns that happiness lies in simple living, in knowing what one wants in life and undauntedly daring to pursue it.

Yale was born into a wealthy family. When her parents pass away, she inherits their wealth. Yale leads a carefree and indulgent life, nonchalant about the running of the family bridal business and the investments she holds, and leaves these to her employees. Reality bites one day and Ya Le realizes that the bridal business is in the red, the investments have largely reaped no returns and the banks are hounding for repayment of the loans. She tries to seek help from her friends, but she is hurt to find out that they were only interested in her friendship because of her wealth and the lifestyle she could afford to share with them. Yale is now down and out, and her "friends" have all deserted her.

Just when Yale is at her wit's end, she finds out that her late mother had invested in a bridal business "Blissful Times" in Singapore with her aunt, Jinfeng (Mimi Chu), who is running the business. Yale tries to sell her late mother's shares in "Blissful Times" to Jinfeng to raise cash to repay the banks. However, Jinfeng has other plans. She refuses to buy over Yale's share in the business and insists that Yale works in "Blissful Times" with her. Left without a choice, Yale agrees.

Cast

Main cast

Cast	Role	Description
Rui En 瑞恩	Zhang Yale 章雅乐	Mei Jinfeng's niece Designer for "Blissful Times" Lin Wentao's girlfriend and later wife
Joanne Peh 白薇秀	Pan Leyao 潘乐瑶	Pan Jiaxiang and Wang Cuilan's daughter Ouyang Ming's girlfriend and later wife
Pierre Png 方展发	Lin Wentao 林文涛	"Blissful Times" photographer Adopted son of Mei Jinfeng Student of Induk Taekwondo Academy Four-time champion (National Taekwondo Championships) Zhang Yale's boyfriend and later husband Guan Yiting's ex-boyfriend
Mimi Chu 朱咪咪	Mei Jinfeng 梅金凤	"Blissful Times" lady boss Instructor of Induk Taekwondo Academy
Zhang Yaodong 张耀栋	Ouyang Ming 欧阳明	Ouyang Feng's son Leyao's constant companion Pan Leyao's boyfriend and later husband
Zhang Zhenhuan 张振寰	Yin Zhengkai 殷正凯	CEO of Mika Group Pan Lexuan's boyfriend and later husband Yin Zhengwen's younger brother
Kate Pang 庞蕾馨	Lin Le 林乐	Daughter of Mei Jinfeng Pan Weisong's girlfriend and later wife
Yao Wenlong 姚彣隆	Pan Weisong 潘伟松	Pan Jiaxiang and Wang Cuilan's son Lin Le's boyfriend and later husband Used to be in love with Zhang Yale Student of Induk Taekwondo
Julie Tan 陈欣淇	Pan Lexuan 潘乐萱	Pan Jiaxiang and Fengping's daughter Yin Zhengkai's girlfriend and later wife
Ho Kwai Lam 何貴林	Ouyang Feng 欧阳风	Mei Jinfeng's ex-enemy Father of Ouyang Ming Ex-boss of "I Do I Do" Instructor of Jinshan Taekwondo Academy Later Mei Jinfeng's suitor

Other cast

Cast	Role	Description
Huang Wenyong	Pan Jiaxiang	Wang Cuilan's husband Pan Weisong, Pan Leyao and Pan Lexuan's father
Xiang Yun	Wang Cuilan	Pan Jiaxiang's wife Pan Weisong and Pan Leyao's mother
Constance Song	Yin Zhengwen	Yin Zhengkai's elder sister Chairman of Mika Group
Ya Hui	Guan Yiting	Lin Wentao's ex-girlfriend
Darren Lim	Li Zhenbang	Ex-student of Jinshan Taekwondo Academy Student of Red Sun Taekwondo Academy Two-time champion (National Taekwondo Championships)
Jerry Yeo	Star	Singer at a bar Cross-dresses Lin Le's ex-boyfriend
Joshua Ang	Qian Wenlong	Pan Lexuan's ex-boyfriend

Trivia

This drama is the first MediaCorp TV drama in 2011 to have an instrumental music for the opening theme, the next three shows with music as the opening theme are C.L.I.F., On the Fringe and Bountiful Blessings.
Some scenes in this drama were shot in Kuala Lumpur. However, it is not a co-production with NTV7. Some Kuala Lumpur scenes were also shot in Singapore.
Originally this drama had intended to produce 21-episodes, but there would be an additional episode due to overruns in filming.
Mimi Chu apparently plays two roles, as Mei Jinfeng and the "Fairy Godmother" in Yale's dreams (eps 1 & 21).
Joanne Peh and Zhang Yaodong paired up again after The Greatest Love of All and Your Hand In Mine.
Huang Wenyong and Xiang Yun were paired up for many times. Their recent pair-up was The Score.
In Your Hand In Mine, Huang Wenyong and Yao Wenlong were brothers. In this drama, they are father and son.
In Joys of Life, Yao Wenlong and Kate Pang were father and daughter. In this drama, they are husband and wife
The show was originally called 'Love In Two Cities'

2012 Accolades

Show 1

Nominee	Award	Results
Loo Yin Kam 卢燕金	Best Director 最佳导演	Nominated
Paul Yuen and Tang Yeow 陈耀	Best Screenplay 最佳剧本	Nominated
Soh Kok Leong	Best Cameraman Award 最佳戏剧摄影	Nominated
Rui En 瑞恩	Star Awards for Favourite Female Character 最喜爱女角色	Won

Show 2

Award	Nominee	Results
Best Actress 最佳女主角	Rui En 瑞恩	Nominated
Best Actress 最佳女主角	Joanne Peh 白薇秀	Won
Best Newcomer 最佳新人奖	Kate Pang 龐蕾馨	Won

International broadcast

Country/Region	Original network	Original channel	Daily	Start timeslot	End timeslot	Time zone	Episode premiere	Episode finale	Dubbed	Subtitle
Malaysia	Media Prima Berhad	NTV7	Weekday	18:00	19:00	MST	2 January 2012	present	Chinese	Malay
Singapore	MediaCorp TV	Channel 8	Weekday	21:00	22:00	SST	14 February 2011	11 March 2011	Chinese	English