The battle between good and evil in the Chinese fairy tale “The Magic Aster” will be staged in Longgang this weekend. It is being presented by the Guangxi Drama Troupe in Putonghua.

    The story is set in ancient times in China. On an idyllic mountain abounding with flora and fauna lives Malang, a kind of Chinese Tarzan. He is keeper of the magic aster, a lilac-like flower with legendary powers to bestow happiness on its owner.

    Malang rescues an old man who strayed to the mountain and promptly falls in love with his daughter, Xiaolan. He goes to court her with presents of melons and a choir of singing frogs. Dalan, Xiaolan’s materialistic twin sister, opens the door and is unimpressed.

    Meanwhile, a witch threatens to destroy the area’s wild life balance by overrunning everywhere with vines and creepers. She uses some trinkets to bribe Dalan into stealing the magic aster. Malang and his animal pals fight the witch’s hydra-like killer vines in a drawn-out finale.