IT was already an ambitious effort back in 1992 when Hong Kong Repertory Theatre's Ko Tin-lung decided he wanted to put on the musical I Have a Date with Spring.

Last weekend, Ko and two new 'partners' - film director Clifton Ko Chi-sum and playwright Raymond To Kwok-wai - took that one step further by bringing back to stage the hit-musical-turned-hit-movie.

The script, which was named best screenplay at the 14th Hong Kong Film Awards for Clifton Ko's movie version, revolves around the bond of friendship among four nightclub singers during the 60s - Siu-tip, Lulu, Nancy and Fung Ping.

Siu-tip goes on to become a famous singer and Lulu happily retires from stage after marriage, but Fung Ping is killed while singing in Vietnam during the war and Nancy loses a battle with liver cirrhosis. Siu -tip later returns to the old nightclub for one last show before the building is torn down and gets the chance to reminisce on old times, her dead 'sisters' and her lost love, musician Kar-ho.

Alice Lau Ngar-lai, who won the best newcomer award for her role in the movie version, and Louisa So Yuk-wa are the only two members of the original cast appearing in this new run.

Veteran television artist Michelle Yim puts on a slightly different interpretation than Lo Koon-lan, as the original madcap Lulu. But singer Elisa Chan Kit-ling, making her stage debut, produces one of the night's highlights with her performance as the cigarette-puffing, brandy-swigging foul-mouthed Nancy.

Fong Kar-wong who plays Lulu's son Bobby, deserves special mention for his hip Canto-rapping and acting, not to mention noteworthy vocals which he shows off with a solo number.

The sensitive script by To, Ko Tin-lung's stage directing and Clifton Ko's celluloid savvy - not to mention a wholehearted performance by the cast and the original songs by Chung Chi-wing - brought out the best in each area of performance.

The result was an excellent production with outstanding acting, great stage design and wonderfully moving songs.

Much of the play's difficulty lies in the fact that the story is told mainly with flashbacks intermingled with brief segments from the present. But the handling of these scenes and the technical effects put to use were impressive, to say the least.

In one scene which intermingles the concurrent conversations between Siu-tip and Kar-ho, who is trying to give her the brush-off, and Siu-tip and Cock, who she is trying to let down gently, the script is so smooth that one can hardly tell where one conversation ends and the other picks up.

The stage production uses only two main sets - the dressing room and the cabaret hall - to simplify things, but the closing scene in the hall, complete with sliding stage and glittering lights, is reminiscent of the grandeur of some of television's musical extravaganzas.

The 'new look' version of the play brings a new spring to stage productions and is well worth its 70 runs. Take along plenty of tissues.

I Have a Date with Spring, Lyric Theatre (Academy For Performing Arts). June 3-25, August 19-October 15, 7.30pm (except Mondays)