THE legendary solo drama Emily of Emerald Hill will be staged in Penang on July 26 and 27 at Auditorium A, Komtar, starring acclaimed Malaysian actress Pearlly Chua. This celebrated monodrama, written by Singaporean playwright Stella Kon, is directed by veteran theatre director Chin San Sooi, who also helmed the world premiere in 1984.
Performed in English with Chinese subtitles, this one-woman show tells the poignant life story of Emily Gan, a Peranakan woman in the mid-20th century. From the age of 16, Emily rises from a young bride to the matriarch of a wealthy household — a journey filled with wit, resilience, sacrifice, and heartbreak.
Since its debut, Emily of Emerald Hill has become one of the most iconic Southeast Asian theatrical works, staged over 200 times around the world. More than just a personal tale, Emily’s story captures the complexities of gender, tradition, and identity in a changing society.
Director Chin shared his conviction about the play’s potential: “The world must see this play, I said when I first read it. In 1984, no one wanted to direct it as it was a one-woman play, uninteresting, too long, and there would be no audience for it. All wrong. It has become the most famous play in Malaysia and Singapore. This monodrama is now studied in secondary schools and universities in both countries. It is still phenomenally in demand.”
Pearlly’s powerful and nuanced performance brings fresh emotional depth to the character, inviting audiences to laugh, reflect, and perhaps shed a tear. Under Chin’s direction, this production promises to be both moving and masterfully told — a rare opportunity to witness a classic piece of theatre history come alive once more.
Pearlly first took on the role of Emily Gan in 1990 and has since reprised it to critical acclaim across all major cities in East and West Malaysia. She has also performed the role three times in Singapore, and once each in Guangzhou, Sydney, Adelaide, and Vancouver. On October 15, 2017, she marked her 200th public performance, cementing Emily of Emerald Hill as the longest-running monologue of its kind in Southeast Asia.
At the 43rd Golden Horse Film Festival Taipei 2006, Pearlly’s riveting performance under the direction of celebrated Malaysian film director Tsai Min-liang, as a lusty coffee-shop owner in I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone, garnered a nomination in the category of Best Supporting Actress.
In 2005, the National Theatre of Malaysia invited Chin and Pearlly to present their interpretation of Emily of Emerald Hill as the inaugural performance at its experimental theatre space, Lambang Sari.
Recently, Chin helmed the 213th performance by Pearlly as Emily of Emerald Hill. He also directed the Mandarin translation of EOEH, for which eight performances were done. He was also invited by the East-West Centre to direct Emily of Emerald Hill and Zhang Boils the Ocean by the Chinese Theatre Works in New York.
In 2015, Chin was honoured as one of the five legends of Malaysian theatre by the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards. That same year, he directed a unique East-meets-West production of Macbeth using Chinese opera costumes.
A founding member of both the Five Arts Centre and the KL Chinese Opera Club, Chin is also well known as an educator in English and voice. He has conducted numerous workshops on “The Power of the Voice” and, in 2003, received the Pride of Workmanship Award from the Rotary Club of Ipoh for his outstanding dedication to teaching. He continues to teach and mentor those who seek his expertise.
In 2015, Chin launched his first photographic art exhibition, having taken up photography just two years earlier with a mobile phone camera.
A former student of the Anglo-Chinese School in Ipoh, Chin has written six plays, including Lady White, Refugee Images (musical), Yap Ah Loy: The Play, Reunion (musical), Kuala Lumpur Sentral (musical), and Yap Ah Loy (musical). His directorial credits also include works by Shakespeare, Brecht, Monsaemon, George Bernard Shaw, and Malaysian playwright Leow Puay Tin.
For further enquiries and ticket purchases, please contact Ms Chong at 011-1763 1718. The performances will take place on July 26 (Saturday) at 3pm and 8pm, and July 27 (Sunday) at 3pm, at Auditorium A, Komtar, Penang. The drama will be performed in English with Chinese subtitles. Tickets are priced at RM50 each, with a group package available at RM160 for four tickets.
Pix courtesy of ZXC Theatre Troupe