[On Stage] Like "Hotel California," There's No Escape... Seoul Metropolitan Theatre's "Trap"

On a pitch-black stage with all the lights out, the audience holds its breath, waiting for the actors to appear. Suddenly, the thrilling roar of a speeding sports car engine pierces the darkness, signaling the start of the play. Upbeat music from a car audio system, matching the sports car’s roar, fills the air. A spotlight comes on, revealing the male protagonist, Traps. He is dressed in a brightly colored suit and sunglasses. His expression, as he drives the sports car-a symbol of wealth and success-radiates composure and confidence.

Traps circles the stage, making relaxed eye contact with the audience and flashing a smile. The roar and music continue. Caught up in the excitement, Traps presses harder on the accelerator, and just as the engine noise reaches its peak, there is a loud “bang!” and the sports car comes to a halt. When Traps opens the hood, smoke from the overheated engine clouds his vision. With no rooms available at any hotel, Traps ends up spending the night at the mansion of a gentleman who is a retired judge.

This is the intriguing opening of "Trap," performed by the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre. The setup of a protagonist searching for a car and a hotel evokes the lyrics of the legendary rock band Eagles’ classic, "Hotel California." In the song, the protagonist enters a glamorous hotel, only to be told by the manager, “But you can never leave.” Similarly, Traps, the protagonist of "Trap," finds himself unable to leave the mansion. The mansion itself becomes the trap.

The owner of the mansion sits at a lavish table in the center of the stage, watching Traps as he circles the stage in his sports car. The moment the car stops, the owner gives a sly smile, as if to say, “You’re caught.”

The mansion is nothing short of paradise. The owner and his friends treat Traps to a sumptuous feast of dishes such as chili sauce shrimp, veal liver, and roast spring chicken, all accompanied by fine wine. Traps exclaims that it is a banquet and thoroughly enjoys himself. To add to the fun, the owner and his friends suggest a mock trial game. Though initially reluctant to play the defendant, Traps soon accepts the role with bravado. After all, life is just a game; there are winners and losers, and having always been a winner, playing the defendant in this little game seems insignificant to him. Despite his journey being derailed by an unexpected car breakdown, Traps remains completely at ease.

The lyrics of "Hotel California" are filled with symbolism and metaphor. The song is open to many interpretations, which is one reason it is considered a classic. One interpretation is that it satirizes the illusion of American-style capitalism, criticizing how, despite the prosperity it brings, people become increasingly materialistic in a fiercely competitive society. The glamorous yet inescapable hotel serves as a metaphor for the vast system of capitalism.

"Trap" can be interpreted in a similar vein. Like his sports car, Traps has raced blindly forward in pursuit of success. As the mock trial questioning of defendant Traps begins, he reflects on the life that led him to drive that sports car. In particular, Chorn, who plays the prosecutor in the game, relentlessly probes Traps’ conscience and sense of guilt. The atmosphere remains bright and cheerful, but the words Traps utters, intoxicated by gourmet food and wine, increasingly resemble a confession. After Traps reveals the entire truth behind his success, he appears even more elated, reminiscent of a penitent who has shed his guilt. Feeling as if he owns the world, Traps drifts off to sleep. When he awakens after everyone else has fallen asleep, he makes an unexpected choice, bringing the play to a close.

Traps’ journey-focusing solely on success, racing ahead, realizing his mistakes, and regretting them too late-mirrors the experience of modern individuals in a fiercely competitive society. Sometimes, within the vast social structures symbolized by the mansion in the play, we fail to recognize our own mistakes. Humanity’s pursuit of industrialization, which has led to the current climate crisis, is a real-world example.

The original work behind "Trap" is "Die Panne" ("The Breakdown"), a short story by Swiss playwright Friedrich D?rrenmatt (1921-1990). D?rrenmatt was known for works that satirized human folly and the contradictions of social structures through black comedy. "Trap" is also full of the appeal of black comedy. The subject matter is intriguing, the story unfolds with wit and sharpness, and the actors’ consumption of real gourmet food and wine on stage adds a gastronomic delight. Throughout the play, live piano performances by Simone further enhance the atmosphere and charm of the production.

"Trap" will be performed at the S Theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts until the 30th.