For the 2025/26 season, Chung Ying Theatre Company's inaugural production, "Marry Mummy in Daddy's Shoes", will premiere at the Black Box Theatre of Kwai Tsing Theatre from June 20 to 22. The play features an original script by emerging playwright Jim Hui and is directed by Chung Ying's Assistant Artistic Director, Edmond Lo. The story follows single-parent youth Shing Kwai-yin, who accidentally time-travels back to his father's wedding night and is forced to interact with his young mother while posing as his own father. A series of comedic mishaps ensue in this absurd "son-turned-husband" scenario.
Hui, known for recent works like "The Bucket" and "Vacant Possession", aims to explore how marginalized individuals find redemption through reconciling with family in "Marry Mummy in Daddy's Shoes", centering on a protagonist who is "not inherently evil yet does all the wrong things." Lo admits that while the play "appears to be packaged as a farcical comedy but is actually a heartwarming story."
Jim Hui x Chung Ying: Mutual Admiration, Meeting Long Overdue
"Marry Mummy in Daddy's Shoes" marks Hui's first collaboration with Chung Ying Theatre. Reflecting on the partnership, Lo said Hui is such a talented young playwright whose works are hilarious, and there's no time to waste in reaching out.
Recalling his excitement upon reading the first draft, Lo noted, "I knew immediately it was a go. Our tastes and vision for comedy aligned perfectly." The play went from conception to first draft in just six months, a process Lo described as "intense yet organic."
Hui summarized the collaboration with Chung Ying as "mutual admiration and a meeting long overdue." Having focused on comedy in recent years, Hui found synergy with Chung Ying's dedication to the genre, fostering a "creative tacit understanding." He was particularly surprised by how actors infused their roles with fresh perspectives during rehearsals, adding new layers to the script.
Unfazed by Comparisons: A Fresh Take on Time Travel to Examine Family Dynamics
While time travel is a key theme in "Marry Mummy in Daddy's Shoes" - a popular trope in recent films and plays - Hui isn't worried about comparisons. "There are hardly any entirely new themes left," he joked, emphasizing his goal to find a unique angle within familiar frameworks.
Unlike trendy multiverse concepts, Hui's approach strips back the logic, focusing on character growth and prompting audiences to reflect on the essence of family ties amidst laughter.
Sunday Yuen's Debut Lead Role: "This Character Fascinates Me"
Chung Ying full-time actor Sunday Yuen stars as the protagonist Shing Kwai-yin, his first leading role. Yuen told DotDotNews' reporter that he was instantly hooked by the script's relentless, engaging scenes that drive the plot forward, keeping audiences "eager to see what happens next."
Yuen is captivated by his self-proclaimed "Fuckboy" character, meticulously crafting details like earrings and dyed hair for a rebellious look. He even improvised lines during rehearsals. "The director wanted dialogue to flow like ping-pong, which helped me, a basketball enthusiast, find a unique rhythm," he shared.
As for the biggest challenge faced this time, he laughed and said that because the lead role had to be on stage throughout the whole performance, "there was not even time to drink water, which was a huge physical challenge."
(Reporters: Kelly Yang, Liu Yu; Camera & video editing: Bernhard)
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