[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] This Lunar New Year holiday is filled with musical performances that are more enjoyable than ever. From proven blockbusters to immersive (audience participation) shows where the audience creates the story together with the actors, a variety of distinctive works are lined up.
◆The Man Who Laughs= This work won the Grand Prize at the 2018 Korean Musical Awards. EMK Musical Company invested 17.5 billion KRW to stage Victor Hugo's novel of the same name for the first time in the world. The stage boasts a grandeur matching the investment. From the opening scene where the protagonist Gwynplaine is left alone, the scale is noticeably impressive. Hugo's novel contains criticism of the severe class discrimination in 17th-century English society. The musical also criticizes class discrimination and emphasizes the meaning of an equal world. However, more than that, the tragic love between Gwynplaine and Dea leaves a stronger impression. The sad violin melody expressing their heartbreaking love is also striking. A violinist frequently appears on stage, stirring the audience's hearts with beautiful solos. The musical numbers composed by Frank Wildhorn add to the beautiful charm of the story.
◆Aida= This is a proven musical now in its fifth season in Korea. Disney adapted Giuseppe Verdi's 1871 opera into a musical in 1998. While maintaining the original opera's framework of a love triangle between Egyptian princess Amneris, her maid Aida, and Egyptian general Radames, the musical enhances the drama by giving characters more personality and introducing new characters such as Radames' ambitious father, who was not in the opera. Verified talented actors such as Yoon Gongju, Jung Seona, Ivy, Choi Jaerim, Kim Woohyeong, and Jeon Nayoung appear in large numbers. This is a must-see performance as it is the last chance to see Disney's original Aida production. Disney has decided to end the original version of Aida after this season.
◆Rebecca= Rebecca is also in its fifth season since its Korean premiere in 2013. The thriller film master Alfred Hitchcock directed it as a movie in 1940, and it is the only work that earned Hitchcock an Academy Award. It won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Cinematography in 1941. It was also the opening film of the 1st Berlin International Film Festival in 1951. The musical premiered in Vienna, Austria in 2006 and caused a sensation when it premiered in Korea in 2013. Thanks to this, it is already in its fifth season in a short period. Renowned musical actors such as Ryu Jeonghan, Eom Gijun, Ok Juhyeon, Shin Youngsook, Kai, and Jang Eunah appear.
◆Sweeney Todd= This is the story of a ruthless barber murderer dreaming of revenge. Musical stars with strong ticket power such as Jo Seungwoo, Hong Kwangho, and Ok Juhyeon appear in large numbers. Sweeney Todd was also made into a film by director Tim Burton in 2007. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter starred, gaining worldwide popularity. The number "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," which starts with "Have you heard of Sweeney Todd," leaves a strong impression. Along with this, ensembles dressed and made up like zombies heighten the eerie atmosphere. Sweeney Todd will close after this Lunar New Year holiday.
◆Big Fish= Big Fish is also a work that director Tim Burton made into a film in 2003, achieving worldwide blockbuster success. The musical shows a different unique charm from the film. The Act 1 ending scene where the protagonist Edward Bloom proposes to his wife Sandra against a backdrop filled with yellow daffodils is as beautiful as the proposal scene in the film, and the Act 2 ending expressing Edward Bloom's death leaves a strong lingering impression. The puppet (a doll operated directly by an actor inside) that adds fantasy charm is also impressive. It can be considered the warmest musical among those performed during this Lunar New Year holiday.
◆The Iron Mask= This is based on The Iron Mask, one of the Three Musketeers series by 19th-century French novelist Alexandre Dumas, famous for The Three Musketeers. It deals with the story about 20 years after The Three Musketeers. All the musketeers have retired. Athos is happy that his son Raoul has become a royal guard. Porthos runs a tavern with his wife, and Aramis has become a clergyman. D'Artagnan is the captain of the king's guard. There are conflicts between D'Artagnan, who believes some problems cannot be solved with a sword, and the musketeers, who believe some problems can only be solved with a sword. But in the end, they unite for the people. Using the proven story of The Three Musketeers as a backbone, it shows a different kind of fun. You can feel the experience of veteran musical actors such as Shin Sungwoo, Kim Beomrae, and Lee Geonmyeong. One actor plays a dual role as King Louis XIV and his twin brother Philip, who lives a completely different tragic life because of their identity. The actor Sandi, who plays this role, shows an impressive performance.
◆Bodyguard= This performance stands out with its glamorous show. The opening scene, which starts brilliantly with pop star Rachel Marron's show reminiscent of a concert hall, is impressive. The 1992 film of the same name starring the late Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner was very popular and was re-released in 2018. Kim Sunyoung, who won Best Actress at the 2019 Korean Musical Awards, and singers Park Kiyoung, Son Seungyeon, and Haena appear as Rachel Marron, filling the performance with Houston's hits such as "I Will Always Love You" and "Run To You." There are some shortcomings in the story development where Marron develops a subtle feeling for her bodyguard Frank Farmer who protects her. However, the glamorous and exciting show scenes make up for those shortcomings.
◆A Better Tomorrow= This work evokes nostalgia for the generation who were fans of Hong Kong movies in the 1980s and 1990s. It effectively combines the first and second parts of A Better Tomorrow, which sparked the Hong Kong noir film boom, into one musical. To faithfully reproduce the original film, about 1,000 LED screens were installed on the front of the stage. You can feel the advancement of stage art using LED technology. The original soundtrack (OST) "Dangnyeonjeong" and "Bunhyang Miraeilja," sung by the late Leslie Cheung, the lead actor of the film, also evoke nostalgia.
◆The Great Gatsby= This is a rare immersive (audience participation) performance in Korea. Actors actively talk to the audience and dance together to lively music. It makes the audience feel as if they have become actors in the performance. You can feel the actors' passionate and charming sides up close through their heavy breathing and sweating. The unique fun that cannot be seen in other performances comes from the audience dancing with the actors and skillfully responding to the actors' questions like "What's your name?" with answers like "I'm Lily." It is literally a work created together by actors and the audience. The performance space is divided into several areas, and depending on the actor, the story can be approached from different perspectives, which is also an attractive element. However, there is a risk of missing the flow of the story, so it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the entire original novel before attending.
◆Fan Letter= This is a creative musical inspired by real figures Lee Sang and Kim Yujeong, and the pure literature group Guinhoe. It depicts the art and love of writers during the 1930s Japanese colonial period. The protagonist Kim Haejin is excited by a letter sent by a woman named Hikaru and ignites creative enthusiasm. However, as Hikaru's true identity is revealed, an interesting twist unfolds. Especially impressive is the Act 2 scene where Hikaru appears and expresses the inner conflict of aspiring writer Jeong Sehoon, who admires Kim Haejin. The stage background is decorated with traditional Korean hanok doors, and shadows are projected to reveal the characters' psychology, showing a dreamy charm. The subtle melody of the music also adds to the dreamy allure of the play.
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