What makes a mother a mother?
What can greed compel a person to do?
The Chalk Circle, a Hokkien opera adapted from a Yuan Dynasty classic,
asks these questions and more in a theatrical tapestry of comedy,
drama, song and dance that will induce both tears and laughter.
At a time of war, a baby boy, abandoned by his mother, the self-serving
wife of a rich Duke, is rescued by her kind young maid, Zhang Haitang,
who endures various difficulties to care for him.
When the war ends, the boy's natural mother returns to claim him and
his inheritance. The case of rightful maternity is brought before a
judge who places the boy in a circle of chalk drawn on the ground and
announces that the woman who succeeds in pulling the child out of the
circle first will be established as the mother.
Artistic Director/Playwright: Dr. Chua Soo Pong
Directed by: Hung Kun Yu, Li Shuai Min
Music Director: Zhuang Hai Ning
Percussion: Eugene Toh Kai Xiang
Er hu: Cai Zong Ling
Guest Performer: Elena Chia Choo Sian
Performed by: Hung Kun Yu, Zhuang Chen Huizi, Serene Low Lam,
Sunny Ow Soon Huat, Lorna Heng Wang Sing, Lim Koon Sun,
Koh Soh Tin, Chua Lee Kin, Janet Heng Nguan Cher, Chua Xin En
(90 minutes, including intermission. With English and Chinese surtitles)