Meng Jinghui's Soft looks at gender issues

Beijing-based Meng Jinghui is one of the country's most influential and avant-garde theater directors. He and his scriptwriter wife Liao Yimei are known for their unique onstage techniques that have impressed audiences visually and touched them emotionally.

Their new play, Soft, or Rou Ruan, which is showing in Beijing, is the third installment of the couple's Pessimism Trilogy, after Rhinoceros in Love in 1999 and Amber in 2004.

Comprising just three actors, including mainland actress Hao Lei, Taiwan actor Fan Jik-wai and Hong Kong's award-winning actor Chim Sui-man, the 110-minute play, like Meng's usual exploration of the intense and confusing reality of relationships, revolve around a female doctor embroiled in tabloid rumors and a young man confused about his gender identity.

The scriptwriter Liao spent six years writing the story which, she says, is harder and bolder than the previous two. She explains that she has written a complex story about the clash of two genders rather than a simple love story about two young people.

"The previous two plays explored the power of love and the confusion of sex. This new play attacks your soul," Liao says. "It's a risk to do such a story."

The play premiered in Beijing in November and impressed audiences with its unconventional stage design, involving two disconnected but intertwining spaces and a 360-degree circular stage. Each actor plays two roles; the dialogues are sharp and bold, and get to the core of each role.

Leading actress Hao, who won the Taiwan Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Fourth Portrait, plays the female doctor in the play. She also starred in the 2003 version of the couple's experimental play, Rhinoceros in Love.

For young actor Fan, this is his first performance in a drama. Since the role is about gender confusion, the actor alternates between appearing in bright red lipstick and having sex with the female doctor.

Veteran Hong Kong stage actor and comedian Chim plays a clothing designer who is fond of cross-dressing, and prefers to be called a talented tailor. The role is modeled after Fan Qihui, a costume designer and good friend of the scriptwriter, who committed suicide on Oct 12.