Golden Lotus (musical)

Golden Lotus is a musical written and composed by George Chiang. The musical is based on the classic c. 1610 Chinese novel Jin Ping Mei (The Golden Lotus). Set amidst the dying, war-torn years of Song Dynasty China, the musical tells the story of the beautiful Golden Lotus (Pan Jinlian) whose desire for true love leads her into a blood-soaked web of passion, deception and desperation with the valiant tiger slayer Wu Sung, the rich and powerful Xi Men (Ximen Qing) and the humble peddler Wu Da (Wu Dalang). Betwixt a story of political satire, a doomed love story, and an epic tale of heroism, therein lies also a story of a woman's transformation and her eventual path to redemption.[1][2]

Golden Lotus
MusicGeorge Chiang
LyricsGeorge Chiang
BookGeorge Chiang
BasisJin Ping Mei (The Golden Lotus)
PremiereSeptember 12, 2014: Y-Theatre, Hong Kong
Productions2014 Hong Kong
AwardsHong Kong English Drama Award for Best Original Work

Development

Golden Lotus was the first Canadian musical to participate in the prestigious ASCAP Foundation/Disney Theatrical Productions Musical Theatre Workshop in New York City during March and April 2003, artistic directed by Stephen Schwartz. The three-week workshop included two live performances by a cast of sixteen performers which included Harriet Chung as Golden Lotus, Timothy Huang as Wu Sung, Jovanni Sy as Xi Men, Alan Ariano as Wu Da, Telly Leung as the Fruit Peddler and Scott Watanabe (who also served as the music director) as the District Intendant.[3][4]

World Premiere in Hong Kong

On September 12, 2014, Golden Lotus opened in Hong Kong with a cast of twenty-six performers at the Y-Theatre. The production starred Harriet Chung as the title character, Boon Ho Sung as Wu Sung, and Ronan Pak Kin Yan as Ximen Qing. Also featured were Billy Sy as Wu Da, Samantha Fa as Madam Wang, Scott Watanabe as the District Intendant, Marc Ngan as the Fruit Peddler and Soraya Chau as Ping. The production was directed by Emily Chan with music arrangements by George Gao, choreography by Ivy Chung and set & costume design by Moe Mo.[5][6][2] The musical's score which blends pop rock and Chinese music traditions along with its signature pop love song, "A World Away", were unanimously praised by the Hong Kong critics.[7][1][8][2] The production garnered three Hong Kong English Drama Award nominations for Best Show, Best Actress-Harriet Chung and won for Best Original Work.[9][10][11] On May 31, 2015, the Hong Kong production of Golden Lotus was shown at two public screenings at the Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment in Canada.[12]

Awards

2015 Hecklers Award (Hong Kong English Drama Award) - Best Original Work [9][10][11]

Recordings

Golden Lotus: Sounds From The Musical was released on May 31, 2015. It is a CD consisting of 15 songs from the musical as they appeared in the Hong Kong world premiere. Recorded in Toronto with Harriet Chung as Golden Lotus, Charles Azulay as Wu Sung, Thom Allison as Xi Men, George Chiang as Wu Da, Stacey-Lea Marhue as Madam Wang, Scott Watanabe as the District Intendant, Pierre Bayuga as the Fruit Peddler and Josette Jorge as Ping. Music directed by Tim Stiff. Vocal arrangements by Tim Stiff. Music arrangements by George Gao.[12]

Musical Numbers

References
  1. Review: "Golden Lotus The Musical", MADDBUZZHK, September 13, 2014
  2. Review- Golden Lotus, the Musical", hkeld.com, September 13, 2014
  3. "Preview-Golden Lotus, the Musical". hkeld.com. Retrieved 2014-09-14.
  4. Woman Pursues Her Passion in Life and Dance, The Standard HK, September 10, 2014
  5. Rebirth of an Epic Tale of Passion, The Standard HK, page 4, September 5, 2014
  6. 身演出振雄風 白健恩生擒潘金蓮 He Was Born to Capture Golden Lotus, hd.stheadline.com, September 5, 2014
  7. A Modern Interpretation of a Chinese Classic Tale, The Standard HK, p. 22 September 26, 2014
  8. 白健恩激情戲成重點 Ronan Pak Kin Yan's Passion Play, SING PAO, September 25, 2014
  9. 白健恩主演音樂劇《金瓶梅》 獲《最佳原創作品獎》Ronan Pak Kin Yan starred in Golden Lotus which won the "Best Original Work" Award, Stars HK, September 8, 2015
  10. "白健恩主演音樂劇《金瓶梅》獲《最佳原創作品獎》Ronan Pak Kin Yan starred in Golden Lotus Which Won the "Best Original Work" Award". a1c1.com.hk. Retrieved 2015-09-08.
  11. And the winners are... HKELD.com, September 8, 2015
  12. "Golden Lotus". stouffvilleuxbridge.snapd.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
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