RED BOAT TROUPES AND CANTONESE ... - University of Georgia

1911 and 1949. Audiences are no longer content with florid singing; they also want to watch
pretty faces, elaborately decorated stages, and pretty costumes.
Interview with Mr. Yuen Siu Fai
Mr. Yuen Siu Fai is a renowned performer of Cantonese opera in Hong Kong. A disciple
of Red Boat performers, and a disciple of Pear Garden, he is well known for his dedication to
preserving the opera. Mr. Yuen was one of the few people in Hong Kong who could shed light
on Red Boat Troupes because he had been a disciple of a few performers who had “slept in hung
sun.” He is a “hung fu zi,” 131 that is, he has been trained in the opera from a young age. He is an
exceptional performer who does not mind doing different roles, which include a sheng, a lao dan
or a chou. I have watched Mr. Yuen in many Cantonese Operas. His acting skill as a handsome
scholar is superb, yet his roles as clowns (chou) in both Yin guai yan mei guai (Swallow has
Returned, where my Love) and Fung gok yan sau mei liu cing (The Phoenix Pavilion), were
highlights of each play. In Cantonese opera, only clowns, among other stock roles, can add short
impromptu speech in conversations. Mr. Yuen’s skilful way of adding current news and slang
made people laugh to tears for the next few days.
I called the staff at the Eight Harmony Guild for the Performers for help to arrange an
interview with Mr. Yuen. I was very grateful for Mr. Yuen’s prompt reply and acceptance of the
interview in just a few days. It was an honour to talk with him. The interview was held in the
office of Eight Harmony Guild for the Performers on March 3, 2008. I had watched “Phoenix
Pavilion” several times, before the show that was arranged by a Cantonese opera class at the
beginning. Midway through the show, I was astonished to read from the synopsis that Mr. Yuen
had the role of the old lady, Lady Ha. The movement, the voice, the singing, and the recitative,
131 Red trousers; an apprentice wears a pair of red trousers.
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