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

Wong: Zhang Ngh escaped to Foshan from being captured by the Qing government. Almost all
well-known performers originated from Foshan. [Mr Wong lived in Foshan when he was young.
His mother was from the area.]
Ling: Are the beds in Red Boats in two level bunk beds?
Wong: They are usually in upper and lower bunks. People are assigned to bunks by drawing.
Ling: Where is the best location in a Red Boat?
Wong: Sup gee twung (cross road). Principal performers who exchanged for better locations had
the luxury to board up the area by carpenters, which can be done quickly, and battery operated
fans and lights adds to the “luxury.”
Ling: When is White Tiger performed?
Wong: At a venue where no opera had been performed. Qing yun (principal characters), da lo
goon (important performers) and all the cast got to perform on short opera after White Tiger, on
the first afternoon at a new location. After that, the characters met with hoi hei si yeh (director)
during dinner to discuss the detail of the up-coming performance in the evening.
Ling: What kind of food did hawkers sell at the venue?
Wong: It depended on the location. Different foods are sold at different towns. Tea is sold in
bowls. Local gambling organizations entertained audiences by providing gambling stalls. A
gambling boat is parked next to the Red Boats to entertain performers.
Ling: I can see that you are keeping many books on Cantonese opera in your library.
Wong: I have all the books published on Cantonese opera; for those I could not get, I would
borrow it, put the pages apart and copy the pages; some by hand. [He showed me a book]. This
one I copied from my cousin. The once governor of Hong Kong Clementi translated some of
Zhao's salt-water songs as Yuet Au. These two books are in Cantonese slang, the University of
British Colombia and New York University had taken material from here for study. Many of the
books I possessed are no longer published.
Ling: Among all students of yours, who is the most accomplished?
Wong: I can't say whom.
Ling: What did you teach mainly?
Wong: I taught mainly singing. I also wrote libretto. Twenty four Filial Love was written by me.
Mr. Ho [a philanthropist of Hong Kong] paid for it and the famous performer Man Cin Sui sang
the song.
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