July 30-August 2
Antigone, the tragic character in Greek mythology, has been immortalized in many dramas, among which is Sophocles’ renowned eponymous play. The tragedy tells how the heroine’s courageous and loving action of burying her supposedly traitorous brother against the commands of her uncle, King Creon, leads to turbulence in the state. French playwright Jean Anouilh redefines the social significance of the ancient play by adapting it to war-torn France in 1942 during the Nazi occupation of Paris, as a symbol of resistance to the Third Reich. Theatre du Pif, with guest director Jovanni Sy from Canada, will put this classic on the Hong Kong stage with the company’s co-artistic director, Bonni Chan, taking the role of Antigone and award-winning actor Lee Chun-chow playing Creon. The play will be staged at the HK Cultural Centre Studio Theatre from July 30-August 1 at 8pm; August 1 at 3pm and August 2 at 5pm. Tickets are $180 and $120 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

July 31-September 2
Is it in opposition or complementary to the Summer IFF? This year’s InDPanda, the annual Independent Short Films Festival organized by InDBlue, sets a new record for the number of films on the programme – more than 200, with entries from Oscar and BAFTA award winners to the works of local independent filmmakers. Check out our preview on P36 and the full screening schedule at www.indpanda.com.

August 1-4
It’s been said that a butterfly flapping its wings on one side of the world could cause a chain reaction that would result in a tornado ravaging another country thousands of miles away. But in Butterflies, a musical based on a classic Chinese legend, the eponymous creatures have their sights set on doing more than shifting weather patterns: they want to become human. In the show, lead “butterflyman” Daddy decides to have beautiful female butterflyman Zhu Yingtai marry a human being in hopes that doing so will allow the butterflymen themselves to transform into homo sapiens. But when an uninvited guest crashes the wedding, it’ll take more than a few feeble wing flaps to set things right. Butterflies will be staged from August 1-4 at 7:45pm at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (10 Salisbury Road, Tsin Sha Tsui, Kowloon, 2734 2009). Tickets are $100, $280, $380, $480, and $680 from URBTIX, 2734-9009.

Monday August 3
London-based trio Placebo returns to our shores with their new album Battle for the Sun – not exactly their best work ever, but with an impressive back catalogue of albums like their self-titled debut, Without You I’m Nothing, Sleeping with Ghosts and the 2007 comeback Meds, the show is still something fans don’t want to miss. New drummer Steve Forrest, playing locally for the first time, joins androgynous frontman Brian Molko and bassist Stefan Olsdal as a replacement for Steven Hewitt, who left the band after the Meds tour. Fingers crossed, the trio will play lots of old songs in their set. The supporting band will be local five-piece Mr., the concert starts at 8pm in the HITEC Star Hall on August 3. Tickets are $680 and $480 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

August 5-September 7
What better way to escape the summer heat for an hour or two than sitting comfortably in a theatre watching a cool movie? The Summer IFF returns this year with, as usual, a pretty impressive programme: Highlights include the must-see Vengeance, Johnnie To’s latest offering about an ex-hit man turned chef on the trail to avenge a murder; the quirky Jim Jarmusch’s The Limits of Control, a dream journey through criminality and consciousness; and the Oscar-winning documentary Man on Wire about Philippe Petit’s daring ‘artistic crime of the century’ high-wire act between the World Trade Centre’s twin towers in 1974. And bc has many other recommendations – read James Marsh’s preview on P42 for more. Tickets are $60 from URBTIX, click on www.summeriff.org.hk for the screening schedule.

August 7 and 8
Recent ethnic conflicts in China once again remind us of the underlying problems behind the rapid economic development of the country. Solving those problems may be the job of politicians but art has the power to foster understanding between cultures. Choreographer and dance teacher Dian Liu is trying to do just that with Chemistry, a Tibetan peace project and experimental modern dance theatre inspired by Tibetan music, folk dance and religion. Five young choreographers build emotional intensity as each explores how the people from the Land of Snows express their hopes and anguish through their unique culture. Chemistry will be performed on August 7 and 8 from 8pm at the Fringe Club Fringe Studio. Tickets are $150 from the Fringe Club box office or HK Ticketing, 31 288 288.

August 7-9
Coming Home tells the stories M is exposed to after running away from home: a family so argumentative that their voices become symphonic; the loss of a middle-aged man’s job takes him back to the days his mother taught him how to write; a gambling addict returning home is rejected by his family; a boy with nowhere to go runs away with his best friend’s sister; and a man who doesn’t know how to deal with meeting an angel. When M decides he has seen enough and turns to go home, a stranger suddenly appears before him… Sentimental, poetic yet insightful, Chan Wai’s Coming Home is presented by PIP Theatre with Olivia Yan directing and starring alongside a young cast. It will be staged at Hong Kong Art Centre’s Shouson Theatre from August 7-9 at 7:30pm and on August 8 at 2:30pm. Tickets are $295 and $185 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

August 14-16
Young and energetic theatre troupe Wind Mill Grass are best known for light-hearted productions like I Love You, You Are Perfect, Now Change! and The Cat in Red Boots but this time the three HKAPA alumni are returning to serious drama. The Shadow Box is the 1977 Tony Best Play winner written by American Michael Cristofer. Set in a hospice, it tells about three dying patients: blue-collar family man Joe accepts he’ll die soon, but his wife doesn’t and isn’t willing to tell their son the truth; rent boy Mark, taking care of his lover, Professor Brian, in his final days is frustrated by the appearance of Brian’s ex-wife Beverly; and Felicity struggles against death, desperate to see her daughter one more time. Shaw Mei Kwan, Joey Leung and Edmond Tong will be directed by Tony Wong and Ng Kit-Yan. The show will be staged at the Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium from August 14-16 at 8pm and 15-16 at 3pm. Tickets are $300, $240 and $180 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

August 14-November 1
Legendary actress Linda Lin Dai’s name stands for beauty for her appearances in The Kingdom and the Beauty, Love Without End and The Blue and The Black in the ’50s and ’60s. But not only did she have the looks, she was also a fine and versatile actress – her four Best Actress awards at the Asian Film Festival easily prove that. Although she tragically took her own life at the early age of 29, she remains among the most iconic actresses in Chinese film history. The Hong Kong Film Archive’s new retrospective The Legend & The Beauty – The Films of Lin Dai includes her classic films as well as The Blue and The Black 2, which was still shooting when Lin died – eventually a double finished the performance. The retrospective also features an exhibition with a recreation of her bedroom, the furniture - dressing table, accessories, oil portrait, photos and trophies etc – kept unchanged by Lin’s husband throughout the decades after her passing. The retrospective starts on August 14 – tickets are $30 from URBTIX and a full schedule is available at www.filmarchive.gov.hk. Entry to the exhibition is free.

August 13-17
Hungry? Why wait? The 20th annual HKTDC Food Expo will present starving patrons with oodles of scrumptious edibles. In 2008, the expo saw over 490 exhibitors from 17 different countries and regions and attracted over 314,600 food-loving individuals. This year, the event promises to be bigger than ever – it’s set to occupy both Hall 1 of the Hong Kong Exhibition Center and part of Hall 2. Unfortunately, parts of the fair are only open to trade buyers during the expo’s first two days, but the whole shebang will be available to us plebeians from the 15th to the 17th. With celebrity cooking demonstrations, games, and – hopefully – plenty of free samples, the Food Expo is sure to be a festival to really sink your teeth into.
The HKTDC Food Expo will be open August 13-16 from 9:30am-7pm and August 17 from 9:30am-6pm. Tickets are $25 and available at dedicated 7-11, OK and HK Ticketing networks.

Looking Ahead...

August 14-16
Having Fun, Seriously
2734 9009

August 15
Summer Disco Party featuring Lady Gaga Live at CotaiArena, Macau
6333 6660

August 21-23
Cinderella
2734 9009

August 27-30
The Unexpected Guest
2734 9009

August 27-29
I Ought to Be in Pictures
31 288 288

Khalil Timeless Concert
31 288 288

August 27-September 6
Murder in San Jose
31 288 288

August 30
Hironobu Kageyama & Masaaki Endoh Galaxy Return in HK Live
31 288 288

September 11-13
Transitory in Nature_Audible Growth
2734 9009

Red Rose and White Rose
2734 9009

September 26
An Evening With Il Divo
31 288 288

September 30
Underworld
31 288 288

September 30 - October 4
Wild Wild Rose
31 288 288

October 23
Sydney Symphony
2734 9009

[ Next issue - 13 august 2009 ]