Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District｜Island of Farewell

Description

At the end of the Southern Song dynasty, the Yuan army invaded China. The former prefect of Chaozhou, Zhang Da, resigned in dismay and lived in seclusion with his wife Chen Biniang in Chaozhou, where he trained his clansmen in military arts. One day, an imperial envoy delivered an edict requesting Zhang Da to serve the emperor. Zhang Da's fellow villagers were determined to serve the country, and Zhang Da readily agreed. He set off on a campaign with Lei Jun, Meng Zhong, and a band of righteous villagers. Biniang cut her hair and presented it to her husband as a gift. Meng Zhong bade farewell to his parents, while Lei Jun married Rui Zhu on the eve of the campaign and was sent off with wine by the villagers. Zhang Da and Lei Jun engaged in a naval battle with Zhang Hongfan in Yanzhou, and Zhang Da fell into the water and was captured. Upon receiving the distress message, Biniang led a rescue mission into the enemy camp in the middle of the night, only to discover that the imperial envoy had already defected. The enemy took Zhang Da prisoner and tried to force him to surrender by threatening his life, but he remained unyielding. With their small force unable to resist the Yuan army, Zhang Da encouraged Biniang to preserve their strength and plan another righteous uprising, while he himself faced death with equanimity. As the Yuan army continued their advance, Meng Zhao died, and the righteous army, outnumbered and outgunned, was forced to retreat. Meng Zhao's mother beat the drum to cover their withdrawal, while Biniang stayed behind alone. Unable to hold off the enemy, she eventually committed suicide to remain true to her country.

Creative Team
Playwright: Yip Shiu-tak

Cast
Leung Siu-ming as Zhang Da
Wan Fei-yin as Chen Biniang
Liu Guosen as Meng Zhao
Wen Yuyu as Imperial Envoy
Lin Baozhu as Xu Danyang (special guest appearance)
Mok Hua-min as Meng Zhong
Deng Huishu as Rui Zhu
Kwong Cheng-kun as Lei Jun
Ng China Best as Zhang Hongfan
Chen Yuqing as Meng Zhao's wife
Chen Danchen as Yin Jiao