HONG KONG — After a half century in the entertainment industry, veteran actress Mao Shanjun finally marked her long-awaited stage debut on Wednesday night, bringing the 44-performance run of the Cantonese play Da Si Cheng Ri to a close in a deeply emotional finale.
The production, which also featured performers Lin Rixi, Bai Zhi, Yang Weilun, and Hu Liying, concluded its run in front of a packed house. During the curtain call, Lin presented Mao with a bouquet, thanking her for months of intense rehearsals and her heartfelt nightly performances—a gesture that earned sustained applause from the audience.
Mao, visibly moved, described the entire experience as a remarkable twist of fate. The year marks her 50th anniversary in show business. Despite signing contracts for stage roles on two previous occasions, circumstances prevented them from materializing, making Da Si Cheng Ri her first live theatre appearance. She has described it as likely being her last.
“I grew up listening to Cantonese opera,” Mao told the audience. “My father was a huge fan of the legendary Sun Ma Tsang. Our home was filled with music every week.” She noted her own love for the operatic works of icons Yam Kim-fai and Bak Sheut-sin.
In a spontaneous final gesture, Mao broke into a rendition of the classic opera piece The Unfinished Enmity and Love of the Phoenix Palace, accompanied by a yangqin. She explained that Lin had surprised her during the 8th, 39th, and 42nd performances by spontaneously requesting she sing during the curtain call. This time, it was entirely her own gift to the audience and crew.
The relationship between the veteran actress and the younger star turned into one of the evening’s most memorable moments. “I am his idol,” Mao joked, before quickly correcting herself with a laugh. “He is my idol.” Quick on his feet, Lin shot back, “You had it right the first time,” drawing laughter from the crowd.
Mao went on to describe the collaboration as surreal. “He says working with me feels like a dream, but I am the one who is dreaming. This may be the only stage play of my life, and it was with my idol,” she said. Lin reciprocated the sentiment, calling their months together magical. The two embraced tightly on stage to the loudest ovation of the night.
Da Si Cheng Ri attracted significant attention from the city’s entertainment elite throughout its run. Pop star Joey Yung, screen icon Cherie Chung, veteran actress Wong Ming-cho, and members of chart-topping boy band Mirror were among the celebrities spotted in the audience.
Whether the stage will see Mao again remains uncertain. But the 50-year journey to her debut—and the emotional final bow—cemented a powerful milestone in a career that continues to evolve. For the audience, it offered a rare glimpse of a beloved screen icon fulfilling a lifelong artistic ambition.
