A poignant tale of fading memories

Although she had spent decades performing on stage and screen, musical theater was unfamiliar territory. While she had sung in previous performances, she knew the demands of a live musical required an entirely different level of preparation.

At first, Xiao Ke told her she only needed to sing one song. That promise did not last.

As rehearsals progressed, he was increasingly impressed by Cai's vocal ability and dramatic instincts. One song soon became three.

At the premiere, their duet Little One, Don't Be Afraid became one of the evening's most touching moments, while Cai's solo I've Changed, Yet I'm Still Me revealed the emotional depth behind the character. In another scene, Cai unexpectedly sang a famous aria from the Chinese folk opera The Marriage of Xiao Erhei. The moment emerged spontaneously during rehearsal, and Xiao Ke immediately decided to keep it in the production.

Cai later joked that she had been "tricked".

"He told me it was only one song," she says, laughing.

But there was no mistaking her enjoyment of the role.

Known to generations of Chinese audiences for her sharp comedic performances, Cai took on a completely different persona in Let Me Sing My Heart to You, My Mom. The musical explores memory, family and the pain of realizing that some goodbyes come too late.

Xiao Ke, whose real name is Ke Zhaolei, is best known for folk and pop songs. Born in Beijing, Xiao Ke was trained in classical music. The singer-songwriter's eponymous album was released in 1996, and he has also written songs for pop stars, including Because of Love for pop diva Faye Wong and Hong Kong singer Eason Chan. One of his most famous songs is Beijing Welcomes You, which was written to mark the 100-day countdown to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

His journey into theater began in 2007. About 15 years ago, he launched Xiao Ke Musical Theatre in Beijing's 798 Art Zone, where more than 10 Chinese musicals, all written by him, have been staged.

For Xiao Ke, Let Me Sing My Heart to You, My Mom is far more than a musical. It is a personal letter to his mother.