Remembering Leslie Cheung: how Hong Kong musical Café I Do pays tribute to a true Cantopop legend

Twenty one years after his untimely death, Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing’s hold on the popular imagination only seems to be growing, with musicians, artists and thespians alike continuing to draw inspiration from his era-defining body of work.

The latest artistic venture to pay tribute to his legacy is Café I Do – The Leslie Cheung Musical, which is set to run from August 16 to 25, at the Xiqu Centre in West Kowloon.

Produced by MQ Musical Theatre, the Cantonese-language show tells the story of a pair of siblings who, before being forced to shut down their late father’s cafe, hold one final event in commemoration of Cheung, to fulfil their father’s final wish as a loyal fan. At first, nobody shows up. Dejected, the brothers wallow in self-pity, but one by one, fans of Cheung spanning several generations appear, paying tribute to the singer’s memory and finding meaning in togetherness.

Led by artistic director Phyllis Kei Fei-shun, the production features singers Kimman Wong and Mischa Ip Hau-lam as the lead actors.

Singer-songwriter Wong has taken part in television music competitions and released two solo albums inspired by his time travelling and busking in 39 cities across 17 countries. Ip, a classical vocal studies graduate, has had a diverse, award-winning career that has seen her compete in popular variety show King Maker III, headlining Disney in Concert as one of its main vocalists since 2022, and top the music charts at TVB.

They are supported by an all-star cast of seasoned singers such as Freddy Au Yeung Fung-yin, Cissy Ma Pui-sze, Fred Cheng Chun-wan, Lillian Chan Hoi-tung and Lucas Yung Yin-sing.