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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 15 april 2019

In Cantonese opera, Trump finds his twin brother in China

Associated Press ence,” he said. actor who plays Kim, said
HONG KONG (AP) — With He hopes that one day, they did a lot of research
the blond wig and red tie, “Trump on Show” could on the North Korean lead-
the star of the Cantonese even be performed at the er. “We try to get to know
opera in Hong Kong may White House or in Pyong- him through daily news re-
look familiar. yang for Kim Jong Un. ports,” he said.
The Chinese actor and “This is definitely our “I think the theme is very
singer has the lead role dream,” Li said. fresh, original and unimagi-
in “Trump on Show,” a The opera runs until Mon- nable because it must be
four-day comedic opera day at the Sunbeam The- difficult to use traditional
reimagining the U.S. presi- atre, one of Hong Kong’s Cantonese opera elements
dent’s personal life and his long-established traditional and performing methods to
fictional twin brother who Cantonese opera venues, perform and interpret the
lives in China. created in 1972. role of these modern world-
The three-hour opera opens “This opera has to be per- leading characters,” said
with America’s first fam- formed in Cantonese, but Chan Chi-kai, who came to
ily moving into the White In this March 1, 2019, file photo, Hong Kong actors Chan Hung- of course there will be some see the show as a loyal fan
chun, right, and Lung Koon-tin, dressed as North Korean leader
House, where Trump’s Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump, pose during a English in it,” said Loong of the playwright.
daughter Ivanka discov- press conference to promote their upcoming Chinese opera Koon-tin, a Cantonese ac- Another audience mem-
ers an old suitcase. Inside “Trump on Show” in Hong Kong. tor with more than 40 years ber, Justin Lee, came all
she finds an English version Associated Press of stage experience, who the way from Shanghai.
of “The Little Red Book,” a visit from North Korean show simply uses current plays Trump. “I will certain- “With the recent tense re-
which details ideas on class leader Kim Jong Un in the political characters to grab ly portray Trump’s special lationship between China
struggle by the founding U.S. the audience’s attention. characteristics. I will wear and America due to the
chairman of modern com- Li Kui-Ming, a 64-year-old “It could definitely draw a red tie and suit, with a trade war, I want to watch
munist China. feng shui master turned people’s attention if the blond hair wig and gold- this show and see how the
In the show, Donald Trump Cantonese opera play- play is about popular po- en eyebrows. Apart from playwright depicts Donald
goes to China and meets wright, explains that his 34th litical figures due to their the appearance, I will also Trump, and hope the show
Mao and Zhou En-lai, the opera piece does not aim popularity and influence. I imitate the way he talks as will bring on new ideas to
first premier of communist to focus on serious interna- hope this opera will get my well as his body language.” improve the U.S.-China re-
China. Trump also receives tional politics. Rather, the ideas across to the audi- Roger Chan, a Cantonese lationship,” he said.q