Active Even at Old Age, Performance Canceled Due to Doctor's Recommendation for Rest
Veteran actor Lee Soon-jae (90) canceled the performance of the play he stars in, "Waiting for Waiting for Godot," due to health issues. On the 13th, the production company Park Company announced that the play "Waiting for Waiting for Godot" would be canceled from that day until the 20th due to Lee Soon-jae's health reasons. The production company explained, "Due to a doctor's opinion that more rest is necessary because of current physical decline, we have reluctantly decided to cancel the performance." They added, "We sincerely apologize to the audience who had already booked tickets and were looking forward to the performance, and we convey the teacher's (Lee Soon-jae's) words that he will focus on recovery to return to the stage in good health and repay you all."
Veteran actor Lee Soon-jae (90) canceled the performance of the play he stars in, "Waiting for Godot," due to health issues. [Photo by Asia Economy DB]
"Waiting for Waiting for Godot" is a comedy that pays homage to Samuel Beckett's absurdist play "Waiting for Godot." The play depicts the life questions faced by the understudy actors of the main characters in "Waiting for Godot" as they endlessly wait for their turn in the dressing room behind the stage. In the play, Lee Soon-jae plays the lead role of Esther, leading the production which is mainly composed of young actors such as Kwak Dong-yeon, Kai, Park Jung-bok, Choi Min-ho, Jung Jae-won, and Park Soo-yeon.
Earlier, on the 10th, Lee Soon-jae also canceled both the play and the masterclass lecture titled "70 Years of Acting Philosophy" due to health problems. Born in Hoeryong, Hamgyeongbuk-do in 1934, Lee Soon-jae debuted in 1956 with the play "Beyond the Horizon" while studying philosophy at Seoul National University. Now in his 69th year since debut, he continues to be actively involved in his career even at his advanced age.
Recently experiencing health issues, he revealed on Channel A's "Table for Four," which aired in July, that he lost 10 kg over the past year while working on four productions and collapsed in a bathhouse. He said, "I managed all schedules while receiving acupuncture. I endured well without collapsing, but the day after successfully finishing a performance, I collapsed in the bathhouse." He recalled, "At that moment, I thought my life was over. When I went to the hospital emergency room, they said my head was fine." Less than a month later, he filmed a drama, and although his eyesight worsened leading to cataract surgery, he completed filming considering the production company's circumstances despite incomplete vision recovery after the surgery.
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