One might asked, what Emily? What Hill? It is a title for a monolog drama. A play written by Stella Kon which I was introduced in my drama class back in 2003. I was taking a liberal arts which consists of Asian History and Drama.
The first play I saw was at the Actor Studio Bangsar, starring Pearly Chua as Emily of Emerald Hill in 2003. Before watching it, studying the play reflects and reminds us of the woman’s journey of love, loss, growth, and sacrifice and inviting them to reflect upon familial bonds and tradition.
The story is about the character of Emily which is based on Kon’s grandmother. The inspiration of Emily of Emerald Hill derived from experiences of growing up in a Peranakan family in the 1950’s. It is a story of a generation and is set in 1950 and chronicles the triumph and fall of one woman. It starts with the splendor and tribulations of the era with Emily raising her childs three sons and a daughter through the Second World War. She later recounts her marriage to a man twice her age in her early age, then her battles with her in-laws, and her son’s studies in law which results in a battle lost when he commits suicide.
As the story goes, Continuation of her narration of her personal journey of grief and regret over her son’s suicide, her husband’s betrayal and death, and finally in the end invites audiences to witness her ultimate descent in to living in an old house by herself to a ripe old age.
The second time I watched it was sometime last year at Borders, Berjaya Times Square. Pearly really bring life to the character.
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