五子挂帅 by 陈楚蕙 and 萧少云
Five Generals of the Liang Family

During that year when 陈楚蕙 put up the great performance 'A Family of Scholars' or 一门三进士, 陈楚蕙, 张应炎 and 萧少云 also performed 五子挂帅. This is a large cast with impressive military scenes. It is a tale about filial piety and sibling love. Despite the evil machinations of the devious Minister Jia, the five brothers of the Liang family succeed in restoring their father's good name. The greater part of the opera focuses on the trials and tribulations of each of the five brothers.

Mt first encounter with 五子挂帅 was through cassettes. During that year, 陈楚蕙 and 方巧玉 released a set of cassettes entitled 五子挂帅. Recalled that was the year 陈楚蕙 made a return for her stage performance. Then, I rented a set of VCDs which featured 陈楚蕙 performing 五龙会 (another title for 五子挂帅) with 谢子兰of 泰中潮剧团. Subsequently, 陈楚蕙 and 萧少云 put up 五子挂帅 when they performed in Singapore. When 陈楚蕙 returned to Hong Kong, heard she sold many sets of costumes to the then popular local Teochew Opera Troupe 新荣和兴潮剧团 and 新荣和兴潮剧团 managed to capture strong audience support for 五子挂帅.

My eldest and second sons know how to recite the 20 words lyrics from the show 五子挂帅. Here it goes: 抹我红鬃马，砺我青锋剑，请缨杀胡虏，忠孝万古扬 …..Cheng Cheng Cheng (the gong gong sound of Teochew Opera). My third son can also do that by echoing after me. It is never my intention to force them to accept opera. It’s just coincidental that they accepted the recitation with joys and fun. They don’t know how to appreciate opera but could stay through sometimes to finish the whole opera performance with me. All they know is such performance is ma ma’s 陈楚蕙, cheng cheng, cheng ……