Into the Woods

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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.

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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

Osteria Felice Grand Opening – 28 January, 2016

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Osteria Felice celebrated it’s grand opening with a party on the 28 January, 2016. Executive Chef Brian Moore and his hard working team served up a selection of Osteria’s menu and some delicious cocktails to keep guests fed and watered.
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T20 Hong Kong v Scotland – 30 January, 2016

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An enthusiastic crowd saw Hong Kong beat Scotland in the first ever officially recognised T20 International to take place in Hong Kong.
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T20: Hong Kong Beat Scotland by Nine Wickets

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Hong Kong beat Scotland by nine wickets in a shortened inaugural Twenty20 International match at Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground.

Babar Hayat took the Man of the Match honours, scoring 26 not out in the 10 overs a side match. “I just went in and had a look at a few balls. I targeted their off-spinner. If it was in my range, I just went for it.”

The game was delayed due to a wet ground but when play started, Hong Kong won the toss and decided to field first – and took the first wicket just five balls into the match. A great start to the first ever ICC recognised T20 international to take place in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s bowlers took wickets at regular intervals to keep the powerful Scottish batting order in check. George Munsey was the highest scorer for Scotland with 17 runs, Calum MacLeod scored 16 before he was run out. Scotland finished the 10 overs with 66/7.

Haseeb Amjad led the Hong Kong bowlers with 1/8 off his two overs. Nadeem Ahmed followed closely with 1/9.

Hong Kong v Scotland- 30 January 2016

Opening batsman Jamie Atkinson hit a four off the first ball of Hong Kong’s innings and some attacking batting brought him a tally of 20 runs off seven balls before he was caught in the third over. His opening partner Anshuman Rath scored 20 not out. It was number three batsman Babar Hayat who took the spotlight with 26 runs off 14 balls. A big six in the seventh over sealing Hong Kong’s victory.

Safyaan Sharif took the only wicket for Scotland for 15 runs.

Hong Kong v Scotland- 30 January 2016

The second T20 international between Hong Kong and Scotland will start tomorrow at 1pm.

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67th India Republic Day @ Island Shangri-La – 28 January, 2016

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The 67th India Republic Day celebration took place at the Island Shangri-La as Hong Kong’s Indian community celebrated a vibrant country and the new Make in India campaign.
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Women’s Premier League Cricket

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The first ever fixture of the Women’s Premier League will be played as a curtain raiser to Hong Kong’s Twenty20 International clash against Scotland at Tin Kwong Road Recreational Ground on Sunday 31 January, 2016.

The “Sail” squad will take on the “Bauhinia” squad, with the first ball being bowled at 8:15am, in a match that aims at providing a “best vs the best” competition to minimise the gap between club and international representative cricket.

With the lure of playing in major global tournaments and gaining support from Hong Kong Sports Institute, 2016 is an important year for women’s cricket in Hong Kong. The premier league tournament will give national selectors an opportunity to observe how the players perform under pressure.

After spending time with Melbourne Renegades as an Associate Rookie in the Women’s Big Bash League, “Bauhinia” captain Mariko Hill is back in Hong Kong and ready to bring her experience to the team.

mariko-hill-cap“Mariko Hill will no doubt open the bowling and bat in the top four. Her pace is as quick as anyone’s in associate women’s cricket. It will be great to see if she can develop her bowling at an end of an innings also.” said Director of Cricket and Women’s Head Coach Charlie Burke.

“Her WBBL experience will help the squad by understanding how important preparation is and also showing that there are a lot of opportunities now opening up in women’s cricket outside of Hong Kong.”

The Women’s Premier League will be a three-match series and form the main selection guide for the Hong Kong squad over the coming 12 months.

“I think we might get a few surprises with some other players stepping up and keen to take on extra responsibilities within the team,” said Burke.

The second fixture will be played on the 7th of February at 1pm. The third game will be scheduled shortly.

Women’s Premier League
Date: 8:15am, 31 January, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Road Recreational Ground
Tickets: Free

Women’s Rugby Fixtures – 30 January, 2016

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Match Report: HK Scottish Sekongers 76-10 Discovery Bay Pirates – 23 January, 2016

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Playing Scottish in this weather is just like being at Murrayfield,” said the man from Discovery Bay. “Yeah, but without the Bovril,” was the dour reply from the Scottish supporter, as he sought warmth on the concrete seats of Shek Kip Mei Stadium. At least it wasn’t raining. With both teams in the lower half of the 10s League an evenly contested match was expected. And for once both teams has reserves, even if some had come straight from a 7s competition at Sandy Bay.

The Sekongers kicked-off, Andrea caught the ball for Pirates, ran to the try line and scored. Simple. It was too far for the conversion, but 5-0 to DB Pirates. The HK Sekongers fought back and twice Hui Man-ling, the speedy winger, forgot her inability to catch and scored under the posts. Karis Cheng converted. 14-5 to HK Sekongers.

However, DB Pirates replied with a try in the corner. Again too far for the conversion, but at 14-10, the game was evenly balanced. Alas for the Pirates not. Neon Chau scored a try for HKS Sekongers, followed by Fong Siu-yau, and two more by Hui Man-ling. Karis managed two of the conversion. Halftime score 38/10 to HK Sekongers.

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Halftime, so often a speed bump in HKS fortunes this season, proved to be a mere water break as they continued their onslaught. Andie Ma scored the next try, with Karis Cheng converting. Then Karis scored and converted a try herself. Followed by Li Sze-ting (Try); Hui Man-ling (Fifth Try); Karis Cheng (Conversion); and Li Sze-ting (Second Try); 69-10 for HKS Sekongers.

With the game approaching fulltime, the Sekongers, who had until then played well, suddenly became error prone. Chan Po-ki dived for the try line, only to be taken down by the Pirates defence and knocked-on. In fairness to Pirates they had not given up, in spite of the score. As the referee announced, “Last play,” and set the scrum, Pirates were determined to get one more try. But the Sekongers seemed only interested in increasing their penalty count. Penalty after penalty, 10 meter after 10 meter, the Sekongers went back. The Pirates were now in the Sekongers half and deserved to score. But luck was with the Sekongers. Somehow Pirates lost possession. Once again the ball was passed to Hui Man-ling, who outran the defence, scored her sixth try under the posts, which Karis Cheng converted in the 25th minutes of the twenty minutes half.

The full-time score HKS Sekongers 76-10 DB Pirates was not a fair reflection on the Pirates who fought hard and never gave up.
DB Pirates Player of the Match – Andrea.
HK Scottish Sekongers Player of the Match – Hui Man-ling.

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DB Pirates 76-10 HK Scottish Kukris
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 15:00
HKS Sekongers: Anna Kam, Po-Ki Chan, Tung-Hoi Jim, Scarlet Ma Wan, Neon Chau, Sze-Ying Li, Karis Cheng, Andie Ma, Siu-Yau Fong, Man-Ling Hui
Tries: Man-Ling Hui (6), Sze-Ying Li (2), Neon Chau, Karis Cheng, Andie Ma, Siu-Yau Fong
Conversions: Karis Cheng (8)

Photos: Rabbit in Black