A long hidden secret rises to the fore— and with it, cracks begin to appear in the familial ties between a mother and her three daughters. Are the bonds between them strong enough to weather this impending crisis?
Forced into retirement due to her ailing health, a veteran film and TV actress finds herself missing the glitz and the attention. These days, actress Lin Li Qing occupies her time thinking up ways to battle boredom, and nagging at her three daughters for not spending enough time with her. The eldest, Shi Qi, is embroiled in a secret divorce; the second daughter, Shi Lin, is a respected stage actress fighting self-doubt and a stagnating career; and the youngest, Shi Jie, tires of her mother’s constant nagging to find a life partner.
In a bolt from the blue, Li Qing wins a prestigious acting award, thrusting her back into the spotlight and also onto the theatre stage with Shi Lin. Staged conflicts become reality as mother and second daughter clash time and again, dredging up decades of hurt and dragging Shi Qi and Shi Jie into a whirlpool of suppressed emotions.
Not long after, the family gathers to celebrate Li Qing’s 70th birthday. Outside, the rain clouds converge ominously...
2hr, no intermission.
Performed in Mandarin with some English and Chinese dialect, with English surtitles.
Playwright and Director: Nelson Chia
Producer: Mia Chee
Set Design: Wong Chee Wai
Costume Design: Anthony Tan
Lighting Design: Genevieve Peck
Sound Design: Guo Ningru
Assistant Sound Design & Sound Operator: Raymond Goei
Hair Designer: Ashley Lim (Ashley Salon)
Performance Makeup: The Make Up Room
Key Visual and Title Logo: Ryan Loi
Script Translator/Surtitlist: Quek Yee Kiat
Production Manager: Tennie Su
Stage Manager: Keira Lee
Assistant Stage Managers: Justina Khoo, Natalie Wong
Prop Master: Loo An Ni
Wardrobe Manager: Theresa Chan
Dressers: Shireen Afiqah binte Azman, Monteverde Danielle Anne Francisco
RF Operator: Jean Yap
Crew: Ian Tan, Eliezer Chua
Cast:
Goh Guat Kian
Jean Ng
Sharon Au
Mia Chee
Liow Shi Suen
Ng Johnny
Mitchell Poon
Lim Jun De
Wendi Wee Hian
Wong Yik Looi
Ric Liu
(Source: Nine Years Theatre Programme)