Yeong Kar YanFor a story partly about a woman trying to make it in a man’s world, it’s plenty ironic that Ivan Heng plays the role of Emily Gan in Stella Kon’s well-loved monologue play.
But he makes a terrific woman sashaying onstage in his kebaya and nonya shoes, teaching the audience how to make a patchwork quilt (“open your legs, get out your basket”) or cook a wicked dish of buah keluak. Just a piece of advice, don’t let Emily catch you arriving late at the theaters!
Wrapping up a decade of success for Heng’s theatre company, W!LD RICE, the play follows Emily in the bittersweet reflection of her life. Abandoned as a girl, she was married off by a relative at 14. Determined to never be “thrown [back] into the gutter”, she rises to become matriarch of a distinguished household but at a cost.
Photo credit: Albert Lim KS
Emily of Emerald Hill is back bigger and better this time compared to 10 years ago when Heng first brought his interpretation of the career-making play at Jubilee Hall in 2000.
Directed by Glen Goei, the revival features a bigger stage for Emily that’s extended over the orchestra pit and 7 rows of audience seats. The minimalistic set – with frames layered against each other – allows Ivan Heng’s colourful character to come alive against a white backdrop while serving as a canvas for the multimedia projections by Brian Gothong Tan.
The intimacy and interaction between Emily and the audience continues to be one of the best elements in the play.
When Heng addresses the audience directly, they are in on all the jokes, become privy to her deepest secrets and fears and ultimately, learn to empathize with her even alienated by her husband and son.
Whether as social butterfly, scheming daughter-in-law, or domineering matriarch, Ivan Heng is an unstoppable force.
Check out Ivan Heng’s promo video / spoof of Material Girl by Madonna:
It’s not clichéd to say this is a play for the young and old. Emily is a character in our lives – it’s almost impossible not to find resonance of some sort, to see flashes of our own mothers or grandmothers. She’s the overbearing mother or the controlling wife who at the end of the day only wants what’s good for you.
With its universal themes on love, family and society, Emily of Emerald Hill, which Heng plans to reprise every 10 years is bound to enchant theatre go-ers for several generations to come.
Emily of Emerald Hill is staged at the Esplanade Theatres from Mar 3 to 12.
Tickets can be purchased via Sistic.