Another Cantonese Opera

On Saturday evening, I went to a four-hour performance of an opera called "The Lotus Lantern." It was a different style than that of the "Goddess of the River Luo."

I don't expect anyone but me to find this interesting, so forgive me. I note it here for my own memory's sake.



The opera follows an ancient story about a tragic romance between a young scholar named Liu and a Goddess in China. The two meet and fall in love, despite the disapproval of the Goddess' eldest brother.

They get married and give birth to Chenxiang. Furious, the brother leads his troops to arrest the Goddess who loses her power after her magic lotus lamp is taken away. Liu escapes with his baby son but is heartbroken.

Later, he marries another woman, who gives birth to another son called Qiuer. The brothers get along without knowing that they are born to different mothers.

One day, the brothers mistakenly kill the son of the Prime Minister while trying to save a young girl's life. Grief-stricken and outraged, the Prime Minister orders the arrest of the two, whose parents decide to bring Qiuer to the court and reveal the truth to Chenxiang.

Chenxiang sets off to save his real mother who has been trapped in Mount Hua. After securing the magic lamp, Chenxiang defeats his uncle and saves his mother, while his brother is released from court and set free.

The scene above comes just after Liu and the Goddess have married (they are still in their red wedding clothes).


I think this is the magistrate at the court or the Prime Minister.