In Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre’s biggest theatre production of the year, The Sisters Soong, delivers it all: drama, romance, political scheming, and, naturally, a powerful dose of sisterhood.
Not to be mistaken for the 1997 film The Soong Sisters, this new English language play draws inspiration from the extraordinary lives of real-life sisters Ai-ling, Ching-ling, and Mei-ling.
These three influential siblings left their mark in early 20th century China, defying expectations at a time when women were expected to stay in the shadows of men.
The sisters were born in Hainan, China to Christian Methodist parents and were educated in the United States, including at Wesleyan College, a renowned private women’s college. Their father, Charlie Soong, made his fortune in banking and printing.
Penned by Joe Hasham and brought to life under the direction of Datuk Faridah Merican, the show – currently showing at KLPac until Sept 8 – represents a milestone in their long collaboration. Despite over 35 years of working together, from The Actors Studio to the founding of KLPac, this marks the first time Faridah will direct a play written by Hasham, adding a new layer of significance to this husband-and-wife creative partnership.
“Faridah was very interested in doing a play about the Soong sisters and asked if I would consider writing it. So I did, as a labour of love for her,” says Hasham.
“After going through almost 500 pages of research, I found that everything about the Soong sisters is deeply historical. So about 50% of the play I’ve written is based on facts, while the other half is fiction, crafted from my imagination. The story focuses on the relationships between the sisters and their influential husbands,” he adds.
The main cast includes (standing, from left) Tan Li Yang, Jerry Pang, Priscilla Wong, Season Chee and Dennis Lee; (seated, from left) Jane Tee, Ruby Yap and MayJune Tan. Photo: Tat Chin
Last Saturday night, The Sisters Soong premiered to a packed hall, with narrator Omar Ali infusing the evening with drama, intrigue and humour.
“I wanted to tell the story of three extraordinary and strong women who have fascinated me – three sisters who made their mark during a tumultuous period dominated by men, journeying through ups and downs, countless trials and tribulations which, at times, put their sibling love to test,” says Faridah.
Between fact and fiction
There are many differing accounts of the Soong sisters’ motivations for the decisions they made throughout their lives, depending on who you ask – Mao Zedong was said to have summarised them succinctly as: “One loved money, one loved power, one loved her country.”
Taking on the roles of the titular sisters might have been daunting, but Ruby Yap, MayJune Tan and Jane Tee, who portray Ai-ling, Ching-ling and Mei-ling respectively, eagerly rose to the challenge.
“In playing Ai-ling, I discovered that history might have misrepresented her. I think she was a loving and devoted person who cared deeply for her family and supported them as much as she could. Many may not like her because of some of her darker stories, but I like her,” says Yap.
For Tan, while it is her first time portraying a historical figure, she found an unexpected personal connection between herself and Ching-ling.
“She defied her parents and eloped with Sun Yat-sen despite their objections. Her commitment to love made me reflect on my own past, as I once ran away from home for a man much older than me,” says Tan.
Faridah and Hasham, the theatre veterans who worked together to bring this new production to the stage. Photo: Kelab Shashin Fotografi KL
“The scene in The Sisters Soong where their father tried to stop the wedding is so vividly similar to the moment when my father confronted the man I had run away with. So my take on Ching-ling is that she was naive and passionate; while she was known for her nationalism, her love might have been even greater,” she adds.
The consensus among the main cast is that all three sisters were tragic figures.
“Even though they had money, power, and influence, they were deeply entangled with their family and its breakdown. Despite being strong women, sadly, they were all under the control of men. But as the new women of that era, their fresh style, courage, and confidence really demonstrated a strong attitude,” says Tan.
Tee, who portrays the youngest sister Mei-ling, feels honoured to play such a powerful historical figure but admits the role comes with its own pressure.
“To embody the character, I had to not only show the outer persona of Mei-ling that the public would be used to seeing, but also to show her on a personal level to make her more real and relatable.
“She was not only the First Lady of the Republic of China, but also a wife, a sister, a daughter, and a friend. I hope that I am also able to show this side of her in The Sisters Soong,” says Tee.
Men of substance
The Soong sisters each married men who were influential in their own right, both in wealth and power. “Big Sister” Ai-ling married banker H.H. Kung, who later became Finance Minister, while “Red Sister” Ching-ling tied the knot with the Father of Modern China, Sun Yat-sen, and “Little Sister” Mei-ling married Chinese statesman and revolution icon, Chiang Kai-shek.
Jerry Pang, who plays Kung, spent lots of time researching him and how he could bring the character to life.
“My research also allowed me to understand more about his relationship with the various Soong sisters. It was actually quite enjoyable to explore, as he was considered the most easy-going of all the husbands,” says Pang.
“While I injected many of my own touches and interpretation to the character, I made sure that I did not overshadow the sisters. It seems that my character gets the most laughs in the play,” he adds.
For Dennis Lee, playing a historical figure, particularly one as well-known and significant as Sun Yat-sen, is more challenging than portraying a fictional character.
“When I was offered the role, I consulted one of my teachers, and I remembered her telling me, ‘Yes, Sun Yat-sen is very famous, but who knows what he was really like? No one’.
“It made me realise that everyone has their own version of Sun Yat-sen in their mind, so I just had to create my own version that best supports the central narrative,” shares Lee.
Tan Li Yang, who plays Chiang Kai-shek, describes him as a man of strong character and unwavering focus, determined to achieve his goals at any cost.
“In the play, Chiang Kai-shek shares many good and not-so-great moments with the sisters, which might not have even happened in real life. However, it is moments like these that give the audience a glimpse into the thought processes of the characters,” says Li Yang.
“My aim is to create a Chiang Kai-shek that the audience has not been privy to. I watched old videos and recordings of him to capture the essence of his character, and at the same time I also tried injecting my own take on this historical figure,” he adds.
Bringing the past to life
While the story revolves around the relationship between the sisters and their husbands, the play would not be complete without the support of Omar Ali as Narrator, Season Chee as father Charlie Soong, Priscilla Wong as mother Ni Kwei-tseng and Xavier Chen as Celebrant, alongside an ensemble of 10.
Audiences will be transported to 1900s China thanks to scenographer Yusman Mokhtar, alongside choreography from Kenny Shim.
Costumes also undoubtedly play an important role in bringing the Soong sisters’ story to life – fashion couturier Beatrice Looi tells us that in order to make that happen, she focused on historical accuracy, character differentiation, and attention to detail.
“Each sister’s wardrobe reflects her unique role in early 20th-century China, from traditional qipaos to Western-influenced styles. The costumes evolve with the changing times, capturing the political and social shifts of the era while staying true to each sister’s personality and status.
“This approach ensures that the costumes not only enhance the narrative, but also resonate with the historical context,” says Looi.
Orchestral music is another crucial element – the play features original compositions and arrangements by Tan Zhi Yong, performed by an ensemble of eight musicians led by Lee Kok Leong.
In composing music for The Sisters Soong, Zhi Hong shares that he paid close attention to the music that was popular around the Soong sisters’ time.
“I found that during that time period, the wealthy in Shanghai actually listened to a lot of Western-influenced music, mostly under the umbrella of jazz. Therefore, I tried to replicate the same style in my arrangement and composition.
“Besides that, I also used a Chinese four-string plucked lute called the pipa for some songs to convey certain emotions and represent Chinese culture,” he says.
The Sisters Soong is playing at Pentas 1, KLPac until Sept 8.
