Playing the character of Malvolio is a challenge Lim relishes. — Photos: LIM SOON HENG
When Lim Soon Heng takes to the stage as the pompous Malvolio in KL Shakespeare Players’ (KLSP) upcoming production of Twelfth Night, he’ll be doing more than just playing a role – he’ll continue making a declaration that age is no barrier to living a life filled with energy, creativity and purpose.
At 72, Lim is not only KLSP’s executive director, but also one of its dynamic performers. He’s gearing up for a physically comedic role that demands precise timing, emotional nuance and quite a bit of theatrical flair. So what inspires this septuagenarian to keep leaping into the spotlight?
It all began with a wake-up call. As a young freshman in an American university in the 1970s, Lim was dashing through snow and ice to attend an early morning talk. Huffing and puffing in his seat, he was startled when the speaker asked everyone to check their heart rate. Lim’s, of course, was racing. Then came the kicker: “What’s the use of our intelligence if our body fails us?”
That moment stuck.
“That was my wake-up call,” he says with a chuckle.
Lim (far left) and the cast of KL Shakespeare Players’ upcoming production of Twelfth Night. — Photos: LIM SOON HENG
On the go
Not that Lim has ever lacked for physical vigour.
A child of “unreined animal energy,” he was into gymnastics, karate, swimming, and – of course – performing. “I suspect I have fast-twitch muscles that demand movement,” he quips.
And while Netflix and the sofa do sometimes conspire to tempt him into stillness, his lifestyle remains impressively active.
Daily swimming, walking, callisthenics and yoga keep him nimble, ready for the next rehearsal or performance.
Playing the character of Malvolio is a challenge Lim relishes. The haughty steward, full of self-importance who is crushed by the comic cruelty of others, offers Lim the perfect opportunity to flex both his dramatic and physical muscles.
“Malvolio takes his responsibilities very seriously,” Lim explains. “He tries to maintain order in a household that’s in a bit of disarray. He believes he’s protecting Olivia from opportunists like Sir Toby Belch and that buffoon Sir Andrew.”
The role demands precision – every gesture, every movement, is imbued with meaning. “He tries not to let his frustration show, but it seeps out,” Lim adds.
“And then he is not so much in control.”
Preparing for such a role, he insists, involves no shortcuts. “It’s about closely studying the text, memorising, rehearsing and then more rehearsing. Rehearsals are where I explore, play with the other actors, and reflect.”
That sense of “play” is central to Lim’s philosophy – not just when it comes to acting, but life.
And it’s this spirit that fuels his continued involvement in the arts. “The performing arts offer a safe space to express, to play and have fun. Especially when you’re not relying on it as a career, there’s real freedom in that,” he says.
His advice to other older adults? “It’s never too late. Ever.”
That sentiment extends to his vision for the future. “(Fellow actor) Mano Maniam used to teach acting for seniors. He’s retired now. Maybe when I retire from the stage, I’ll look for others who want to perform. Watch this space,” he says.
Despite being the oldest in the cast by a few decades – “on average, I’m more than twice as old as the younger actors” – Lim delights in sharing the stage with them. Their energy, he says, is infectious. “Their suggestions, whether in music or costume, bring fresh perspectives.” The respect is mutual. Younger cast members are quick to lend a hand and understand when he’s “a little slower” with lines or movement.
Lim is gearing up for a physically comedic role that demands precise timing, emotional nuance and quite a bit of theatrical flair.Far from a dull life
Born in Taiping, Perak in 1953, Lim has always had a way with words. From conducting his kindergarten class band with a baton as a child, then growing up to teach literature, edit IT magazines, write a children’s book, and even host a radio show, Lim’s life has been anything but dull.
“It does look like a chequered career, doesn’t it?” he laughs. But words, and the stories they tell, have always been at the heart of it all. “Words create the reality we experience. Theatre adds physicality to the words.”
Having been in over a hundred productions and co-founded KL Shakespeare Players in 2011, Lim is as passionate about the Bard as ever.
“Shakespeare’s plays are about families – the bonds, the fractures, the interactions. They’re timeless.” Whether it’s King Lear, The Tempest, or the mischievous tangle of Twelfth Night, there’s always something new to discover, especially through the lens of age.
“Even the history plays, like Henry IV Part 1, explore father-son relationships. There’s always a point of connection.”
In the end, it’s that connection – between actor and audience, character and story, past and present – that keeps drawing Lim back to the stage.
So, if you’re wondering whether it’s too late to take that acting class, audition for a play, or join a local theatre group, take a cue from Lim. Life doesn’t slow down in your 70s – not when there’s Shakespeare to be staged, stories to be told, and a world of “play” still waiting to be explored.
CATCH the KL Shakespeare Players in Twelfth Night, a lively 100-minute romp of love triangles, mistaken identities and mischievous antics – told in KLSP’s trademark accessible style. Performed in Shakespeare’s original text, the show stars Tika Mu’tamir as Viola/Cesario, Nurul Sofia as Olivia, Zul Zamir as Duke Orsino, and Jun Vihn as Feste and narrator.
Abdul Min Muhaimin makes his KLSP debut as the raucous Sir Toby Belch, while Lim Soon Heng brings comedic flair to the famously stuffy Malvolio. Performances run from May 15 to 17 at 8pm and on May 17 and 18 at 3pm at Pentas 2, klpac.
Tickets are priced at RM80 (Standard), RM70 (Students), and RM65 for group bookings of 40 or more. For enquiries or to book, WhatsApp +6012 323 0710 or email info@klshakespeare.com.my.
