Stephen Sondheim’s epic musical Into the Woods brings together many of the Grimm brothers’ best known fairytales including Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Little Red Riding Hood. Framed by a moving story about a childless couple who long to have a family of their own. With a challenging and captivating score, dark comedy and physical theatre, Face Productions brings an exciting new edge to this classic Broadway and West End musical.
When the baker and his wife are cursed to be childless by the witch from next door, the only way to break her spell is to venture into the woods to find four mysterious ingredients. With a cow as white as milk, a cape as red as blood, hair as yellow as corn, and a slipper as pure as gold, they must create a potion to appease the Witch and restore her former beauty. On their way, they cross paths with familiar characters: each with a wish of their own. Who will make it out of the woods alive? And will we find truth in the old adage of happily ever after?
Into the Woods opened on Broadway in November 1987 to massive critical acclaim winning several Tony Awards, including Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actress in a Musical. While Disney’s 2014 film adaptation, directed by Rob Marshall and featuring an all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Anna Kendrick, earned US$212 million worldwide, as well as three Academy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.
Face Productions – whose recent productions include Hairspray (2013), Footloose (2014), and Legally Blonde (2015) – revival has Conor O’Grady at the Director’s helm, with Roy Rolloda and Jessica Peralta as the Baker and Baker’s Wife respectively, Candice Caalsen as the Witch, and Sophie Connell as Little Red Riding Hood. Choreographed by Claire Johnson, with Enrico Narvaez as Musical Director, the show features many professional and veteran performers, a live band, and some of the highest calibre community theatre performers in Hong Kong.
Cast
Baker: Roy Rolloda
Baker’s Wife: Jessica Peralta
Witch: Candice Caalsen
Little Red Riding Hood: Sophie Connell
Director: Conor O’Grady
Choreographer: Claire Johnson
Musical Director: Enrico Narvaez
Into the Woods Date: 4-7 February, 2016 Venue: HK City Hall, Theatre Tickets: $395 from Urbtix More info:
4-6 February – 8pm
7 February – 7:30pm
Into the Woods Junior
Face Academy: $275 6–7 February – 10.30am and 2.30pm
The Women’s Scratch Race medals went to Marina Shmayankova (BLR), Laura Trott (GB) and Yang Qianyu (HKG) respectively
The largest track cycling competition ever staged in Hong Kong kicked off today 15 January at the Hong Kong Velodrome in Tseung Kwan O. Co-organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and The Cycling Association of Hong Kong (CAHK), the UCI Track Cycling World Cup – Hong Kong saw some early success for Hong Kong as Yang Qianyu claiming the bronze in the Women’s Scratch Race.
Mr Wilfred Ng, SBS JP, President of the Organizing Committee of The UCI Track cycling World Cup – Hong Kong remarked at the opening ceremony, “The World Cup is one of the most important events on the world track cycling calendar. It is also the key competition in which riders earn ranking points ahead of 2016 Rio Olympics. The fact that the competition takes place in Hong Kong this year under the cheering of local fans is a boost for the Hong Kong Team. Show them your support!”
The Men’s and Women’s Scratch Race and Points Race concluded Friday with Thomas Benjamin of France taking two gold medals in both Men’s Scratch Race and Men’s Points Race. The Women’s Scratch Race medals went to Marina Shmayankova (BLR), Laura Trott (GB) and Yang Qianyu (HKG) respectively, while Jolien D’Hoore (BEL) stepped on the top of the podium in the Women’s Points Race.
In the qualifying races, Australia posted a time of 4:00.947 and secured a spot in tomorrow’s (16 January) Men’s Team Pursuit final. As for Women’s Team pursuit, Great Britain rode 4:19.369 to secure the top qualifying spot. In Men’s Team Sprint, Great Britain set the fastest time to move through to the gold medal race against Poland, while Rusvelo team will face Great Britain for the Women’s Team Sprint gold medal.
Saturday’s race schedule, includes the finals of the Men’s and Women’s Team Pursuit, Men’s and Women’s Team Sprint, Men’s Keirin and Women’s Sprint. Hong Kong Olympic medalist Sarah Lee Wai-sze, who will contend in the Women’s Sprint.
Results Friday 15 January Men’s Points: Thomas Benjamin (FRA), Julio Alberto Amores Palacios (ESP), Luke Mudgway (NZL) Women’s Points: Jolien D’Hoore (BEL), Jasmin Glaesser (CAN), Emily Nelson (GB) Men’s Scratch: Thomas Benjamin (FRA), Xavier Canellas Sanchez (ESP), Jordan Arley Parra Arias (COL) Women’s Scratch: Marina Shmayankova (BLR), Laura Trott (GB) and Yang Qianyu (HKG)
Race Schedule
Saturday 16 January
Team Pursuit (men’s and women’s finals)
Team Sprint (men’s and women’s finals)
Omnium (men and women, events 1-3)
Women’s sprint
Men’s Keirin
Sunday 17 January
Men’s Sprint
Omnium (men’s and womens, events 4-6)
Women’s Keirin
UCI Track Cycling World Cup Hong Kong Date: 16-17 January, 2016 Venue: Hong Kong Velodrome, Tseung Kwan O Tickets: $200, $150, $120 from HK Ticketing
Screen shots of the HK Rugby Union website with the women’s fixtures yet to be added – all the men’s fixtures for the rest of the season are posted in full.
Hong Kong Scottish Kukris started 2016 at 5th place in the league, with a game against 2nd place SCAA CWB Pheasants. There was everything to play for, as a win or draw would keep Kukris in the top half of the league when it splits. But both Tigers (6th) and Gai Wu (7th) could overtake Kukris…and had easier fixtures.
Training had not gone as planned, being disrupted by the weather, and with more injured players in support than players on the bench, the management team was apprehensive. Not so the ladies on the pitch.
The game commenced in a physical manner as both teams sought to open the scoring. But it was also error strewn, with numerous penalties. Nine minutes in SCAA were given a Yellow for repeated offside. Kukris used the advantage with LI Sze-ting scoring on the right by literally diving over the defense. The conversion was wide, 5/0. But SCAA struck back four minutes later with a try, 5/5. The game continued with neither team having a clear advantage, until thirty minutes when a good team effort enabled FUNG Yuen-ting to score. Halftime advantage to HKS Kukris 10/5.
SCAA clearly got the better team talk, as they came out fired-up and forced their way into the Kukris half, scoring a converted try. SCAA now had the lead, 10/12. In spite of the players tiring, Kukris responded well, and HIU Man-ling was able to outrun the defenders, score under the posts, with Karis CHENG converting. Advantage HKS Kukris 17/12. Another try would surely make the game safe, but it was SCAA who broke the Scottish defense, scoring under the posts and converting; score 17/19. As the clock ran down, Kukris surged forward, but the SCAA line remained solid. Even though Kukris has taken the lead three times, it was SCAA who were ahead at the final whistle, winning 19/17. But well played everyone. An exciting and entertaining game.
Best Hong Kong Scottish Kukris Player of the Day – LI Sze-ting.
Hong Kong Scottish Kukris
1. Rachael Wong, 2. Neon Chau, 3. Scarlet Ma Sze-Wun, 4. Claire Hunter, 5. Robyn Beese, 6. Anna Kam, 7. Huen Wai-Ying, 8. Karis Cheng, 9. Andie Ma, 10. Chung Hau-Yi, 11. Fung Yuen-Ting, 12. Li Sze-Ting, Hui Man-Ling, 14. Roshini Turner, 15. Berky Kong, 16. Mary Tsui Yung-Nga, 17. Jim Tung-Hoi, 18. Taro Yau Sin-Yu
There really is only one place to be this coming weekend and that’s at the HK Velodrome where double Olympic Gold medalist and multiple World Champion Laura Trott is among a galaxy of world class cycling stars taking part in the UCI Track Cycling World Cup Hong Kong. Joining her is Hong Kong’s London Olympic cycling medalist Sarah Lee Wai Sze and World Champion, Tour de France Green Jersey Winner and sprinter extraordinaire Mark Cavendish and triple Olympic gold medalist and World Champion Jason Kenny.
Hong Kong is the third and final round of the 2015/16 UCI Track Cycling World Cup – the first two legs having taken place in Cali, Colombia and Cambridge, New Zealand in October and December 2015 respectively. Around 300 world class cyclists will participate and as 2016 is also an Olympic year not only will cyclists be wanting to win the World Cup they’ll also be looking towards securing Olympic qualification.
The schedule of race is as follows Friday 15 January
Team pursuit qualifying (men and women)
Team sprint qualifying (men and women)
Points (men and women)
Scratch (men and women)
Saturday 16 January
Team pursuit (men’s and women’s finals)
Team sprint (men’s and women’s finals)
Omnium (men and women, events 1-3)
Women’s sprint
Men’s keirin
Sunday 17 January
Men’s sprint
Omnium (men’s and womens, events 4-6)
Women’s keirin
UCI Track Cycling World Cup Hong Kong Date: 16-17 January, 2016 Venue: Hong Kong Velodrome, Tseung Kwan O Tickets: $200, $150, $120 from HK Ticketing
HKCC Cavaliers v DLSWCC Wasps
At PKVR Reservoir, HKCC Cavaliers earned a bonus point after beating DLSWCC Wasps by 110 runs.
Mary Henderson top-scored for HKCC Cavaliers with 41 after they elected to bat first upon winning the toss. Cavaliers reached 7/163 from their 35 overs with Natural Yip and Emma Lai also making useful contributions.
In reply, DLSWCC Wasps were dismissed for 53 in 15.5 overs with Alison Siu picking up 3/13 from five overs. At PKVR Reservoir: HKCC Cavaliers 7/163 from 35 overs beat DLSWCC Wasps 53 from 15.5 overs by 110 runs.
Women’s League – 10th January 2016
Willow Wielders v KCC Maidens
In a rare Women’s League match at HKCC, hosts Willow Wielders continued their unbeaten run this season with a six-wicket victory over KCC Maidens.
The KCC Maidens batted first after being sent in by the Willow Wielders and they struggled early and were soon reduced to 5/30. But some useful middle-order resistance by Renee Montgomery (24) and Godiva Li (22) lifted them to a total of 103 in 28.4 overs. Marina Lamplough was the pick of the HKCC bowlers with 3/7 from her five over spell.
Marina then struck 34 and with Chan Sau Ha contributing 23, HKCC Willow Wielders ran out comfortable winners in 21.1 overs for the loss of just four wickets.
The Willow Wielders victory ensured they retain the Women’s League title for the 2015-16 season – their sixth successive league title. At HKCC: KCC Maidens 103 from 28.4 overs lost to HKCC Willow Wielders 4/104 from 21.1 overs by six wickets.
CCC Jing Sung v HKCC Witherers
At Hong Kong Cricket Club, CCC Jing Sung scored a 39-run victory over competition leaders HKCC Witherers.
Mark Wright top-scored for CCC Jing Sun with 65 as the Craigengower team reached 8/185 from their 35 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Ciaran McAssey was the pick of the bowlers for HKCC Witherers, claiming 3/21 from his seven over spell.
Charlie Bright led the Witherers reply with 39 but didn’t receive enough support from his teammates and from a seemingly strong position of 3/99, their run-chase petered out at 146. Matt Rafter (3/21 from 7 overs) and Gianluca Lamplough (3/32 from 6) did much of the damage with the ball for CCC Jing Sun. At HKCC: CCC Jing Sun 8/185 from 35 overs beat HKCC Witherers 146 from 33.4 overs by 39 runs.
Pakistan Association v Centaurs
At PKVR Park, Pakistan Association moved up to fourth on the table with an eight-wicket thrashing of Centaurs.
Batting first after winning the toss, Centaurs got away to useful start and looked well placed at 1/76 with opener Keith Hemshall scoring 41. Thereafter Centaurs wickets tumbled regularly and they were eventually dismissed for 138 with Mohammad Saad picking up 4/32 from 5.4 overs, including a hat-trick to wrap up the innings.
The Pakistan Association openers put on 53 runs for the first wicket with Daniyal Butt going on to hit 32 and Mehtab Ali scoring 31. Akbar Khan then got them home in the 17th over with an unbeaten 53. At PKVR Park: Centaurs 138 from 34.4 overs lost to Pakistan Association 2/143 from 16.3 overs by eight wickets.
Saturday Championship Division 2
Laguna Gully v Kai Tak
At Mission Road, Laguna Gully enjoyed a bonus point victory over Kai Tak.
Kai Tak won the toss and elected to bowl first but they found themselves chasing leather on the much- improved Mission Road outfield. Shekhar Sharma hit 73, Vikram Thareja 50 and Keyurkumar Patva 33 not out as Laguna Gully amassed 6/224 from their 35 overs.
In reply, Kai Tak could only muster 9/148 from their 35 overs with Pranav Shah claiming 4/24 from seven overs for Laguna Gully. At Mission Road: Laguna Gully 6/224 from 35 overs beat Kai Tak 9/148 from 35 overs by 76 runs.
The schedule of race is as follows