Cantonese opera about Donald Trump performed in Hong Kong

An opera has opened in Hong Kong about US President Donald Trump and his fictional twin brother who lives in China. Other world leaders such as Kim Jong-un and various Chinese politicians are also depicted in the show.

The Chinese actor and singer has the lead role in "Trump on Show," a four-day comedic Cantonese opera re-imagining the current US president's personal life and his fictional twin brother who lives in China.

The three-hour opera opens with America's first family moving into the White House, where Trump's daughter Ivanka discovers an old suitcase. Inside, she finds an English version of "The Little Red Book," the book of quotations by Mao Zedong, founding Chairman of modern Communist China which details his ideas on class struggle.

In the show, Trump goes to China and meets historical Chinese politicians like Mao Zedong and Zhou En-lai, the first premier of modern Communist China. Trump also receives a visit from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the US.

Li Kui-Ming, a 64-year-old Feng-Shui master-turned Cantonese opera playwright, explains that his 34th Cantonese opera piece does not aim to focus on serious international politics. He says the show simply uses current political characters to grab the audience's attention.

The playwright hopes that one day, "Trump on Show" could even be performed before the leaders it features in Washington and North Korea.

The opera is being performed at the Sunbeam Theater, which is one of the long-established traditional Cantonese opera venues in Hong Kong, created in 1972. It can host more than 1,000 people in the audience.

Loong Koon-tin, a Cantonese opera actor with more than 40 years stage experience, plays Donald Trump. He explains what it is like getting into character: "I will portray Trump's special characteristics, for sure, I will wear a red tie and suit, with blond hair wig and golden eyebrows. It will be a colorful performance. Apart from the appearance, I would also imitate the way he talks as well as his body language."

Roger Chan, another Cantonese actor, plays Kim Jong-un. "We did a lot of research about Kim Jong-un. We try to get to know him through daily news reports. I hope I can take on his character. We hope to get the best result through this effort," he says.

Trump on Show runs from April 12 to 15 at the Sunbeam Theater in Hong Kong. Tickets cost between 23 and 64 US Dollars. The show is performed with English subtitles.

(Source: AP) 

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