Notified of "technical defect" just before curtain
Lackluster notice and response under fire
On-site audience complaints erupt
The play Life of Pi was suddenly cancelled just five minutes before curtain time, shocking the audience. The impact was even greater because this production had drawn attention as actor Park Jungmin's first return to the stage in eight years.
According to the industry on the 11th, the play Life of Pi, which was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. the previous day at the GS Arts Center, was cancelled at around 7:25 p.m., a mere five minutes before it was to start, on the grounds that "the performance cannot proceed due to a technical defect." The production company posted an on-site notice promising "a refund of 110% of the payment amount" and stating that "text messages will be sent out sequentially."
However, audience members at the venue reacted angrily. Some vented their frustration, saying, "The refund is not the issue," "We were only notified via an announcement without any proper explanation," and "I even took a day off and came up from a distant region, so this is devastating." The irresponsibility of cancelling "right before the performance" drew even sharper criticism because there were overseas fans in attendance as well.
On official social media and online communities, posts expressing disappointment and anger continued to appear, such as "My seat, my time...they cancelled it with 4 minutes left via an announcement," "The family next to me said they booked a hotel and came up," and "It was curtain call day and I had one of the best seats..." That day's performance was scheduled to feature Park Jungmin, along with Hwang Manik, Joo A, and Jin Sanghyeon on stage, and many audience members had reserved their seats in advance with high expectations.
This case has once again brought to mind the recurring problem in the performing arts industry of sudden cancellations, which has occurred in similar ways in the past. Back in 2022, the musical Rebecca was also embroiled in controversy after its opening-day performance was completely cancelled due to technical issues.
Some online users commented that they "cannot understand how issues related to venue rental fees and equipment were left unresolved until just before the performance." One user pointed out, "From the audience's perspective, the phrase 'technical problem' inevitably feels opaque and vague," adding, "Apologies and compensation are important, but providing an explanation that people can accept and establishing a preventive system in advance should be the top priority."
Meanwhile, the play Life of Pi is a stage adaptation of the world-famous bestselling novel Life of Pi. It has attracted attention for its original narrative about an Indian boy named Pi drifting across the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, as well as for its fantastical stage direction.
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