"Even with countless reasons to give up, I will stick to it for just one reason." On the evening of March 8th, the Cantonese version of the musical adaptation of the popular mainland animated film "I Am What I Am",co-created by artists from Guangdong and Hong Kong, was staged at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, at the invitation of the 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival. The story of "the Lion Boy" chasing his dream resonates in Hong Kong.
The musical tells the story of an ordinary young boy who overcomes hardships to pursue his dream as a lion dancer. As the first mainland musical invited to perform at the Hong Kong Arts Festival,it is highly anticipated by the audience. Apart from the premiere on March 8th, there will be four consecutive performances on March 9th and 10th at the Hong Kong Cultural Theatre, the tickets for which were all sold out two weeks before the start of the performances.
On the evening of March 8th, there were no empty seats left in the theatre. On the stage, the delicate town boy Ah Juan's story, from the initial encounter with the lion dance, becoming an apprentice, facing adversity, staying true to his dream, to finally triumphing over other lions with his teammates on the lofty piles, gradually unfolds before the audiences' eyes through the performances of dance, music, and lion dance. The awakening lion, a living cultural heritage with a millennium-old history, showcased the charm of Lingnan culture through stage art, evoking a strong resonance among the Hong Kong audience.
It is reported that the Cantonese version of the musical "I Am What I Am" carries on the excellent content and high reputation of its Mandarin version, bringing together outstanding artists, creators, performers and production teams from Guangdong and Hong Kong. "It marks a deep cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong. From the stage to behind the scenes, everyone has put in their efforts for a better performance. It is such a meaningful process," said Chen Rui, the producer of the Cantonese version of the musical and Deputy General Manager of the Guangzhou Opera House. He also expressed that the lion dance is a shared cultural symbol and tradition in the Greater Bay Area. The spirit conveyed by the show, "Even with countless reasons to give up, I will stick to it for just one reason," deeply moved the Hong Kong audience.
Source | Yangcheng Evening News
