Korean Association of Theatre Critics Selects Top 3 Plays
The Korean Association of Theatre Critics has announced the selection of the National Theater Company's "Sammaegyeong," Hatangse Theater Company's "Gulliver's Travels: Zoom In Out," and Dongui Theater Company's "Mukti" as the "Top 3 Plays of the Year."
The association explained that it selected three works that presented meaningful directions for Korean theater through highly accomplished performance aesthetics, focusing on plays staged domestically from December 1 of last year to November 30 of this year.
"Sammaegyeong" (written by Ham Saedeok, recreated and directed by Lee Cheolhee) is a reimagining of "Dongseung," originally written by Ham Saedeok and directed by Yoo Chijin, which premiered in 1939. The new version was performed at the Myeongdong Theater in July and August. The play depicts the inner world and self-awareness of actor Ji Chunseong, who played the lead role of "Young Donyum" in the 1991 production of "Dongseung" and, now in his sixties, still has not achieved detachment from the character, having lived with this identity for 34 years.
Critic Kim Geonpyo stated, "This exemplary work demonstrates, in a further evolved way, the potential for the expansiveness and recreation of the original to be amplified through the theatrical language and formal grammar of a single writer and director. The work encapsulates the theatrical characteristics of the original, the recreated writer, the director, and even the actors."
Hatangse Theater Company's "Gulliver's Travels: Zoom In Out" (written by Jeong Seungjin and Oebada, directed by Yoon Sijung) is an adaptation of Jonathan Swift's classic "Gulliver's Travels," telling the story of the protagonist "Bada" going to Australia on a working holiday.
Critic Hwang Seungkyung commented, "Hatangse's signature intricate rhythm and humor lead the performance with a light touch. However, beneath the surface lies a profound ethical reflection on how we view others. The multilayered moments of transformation created by the interplay of objects and bodies subvert our conventional perceptions of 'big' and 'small,' 'subject' and 'object.' This goes beyond mere visual devices, becoming a kind of micro- and macro-level cognitive experiment that explores how the distribution of power and imbalances in relationships are either concealed or exaggerated within sensory proportions, achieving a high level of completeness."
The play "Mukti," written by Kim Yoonsik, deals with the stories of foreign workers and won the 2024 Byucksan Arts Award for playwriting. Critic Kim Giran remarked, "Kim Yoonsik's writing does not escape into ambiguous spaces but confronts reality head-on. The poetic and dramatic dialogue simultaneously draws out reality and aspiration, while the restrained physicality of the vibrant actors, who deliver precise performances, creates a beautiful ensemble."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
