Play 'The Cherry Orchard' Starring Jeon Do-yeon Exudes Strange Harmony of Dissonance

▲ This still photo of theatrical play "The Cherry Orchard," starring actress Jeon Do-yeon, is provided by LG Arts Center on June 5, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Seoul, June 5 (Yonhap) -- "I was caught up in the moment, purely," says Do-yeong (played by Jeon Do-yeon), an elegant middle-aged woman, after kissing her daughter's boyfriend in front of her family. Despite their shock, Do-yeong nonchalantly brushes it off as no big deal.

Born into a wealthy family, Do-yeong has lived a life free of hardships, lacking a sense of reality and acting on whims. Even when warned that their mansion might soon be lost due to the company's financial troubles, she remains complacent, believing, "I always get what I want."

The play "The Cherry Orchard," which opened on the 4th at LG Arts Center in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, tells the story of Do-yeong, an alcoholic facing the loss of her mansion due to her company's downturn, and her family. Directed by the world-renowned Simon Stone, this reinterpretation of Anton Chekhov's classic shifts the setting from 120 years ago in Russia to 2024 Seoul.

Jeon Do-yeon returns to the stage for the first time in 27 years since "Educating Rita" in 1997. News of her participation, a celebrated actress who won Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for "Secret Sunshine" (2007), led to all performances selling out immediately. The 1,300-seat theater was filled with audiences who watched her performance with bated breath. Even without dialogue, Jeon's mere presence on stage captivated the audience.

▲ This still photo of theatrical play "The Cherry Orchard," starring actress Jeon Do-yeon, is provided by LG Arts Center on June 5, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Do-yeong's character, who might seem eccentric to ordinary people, is endearing and charming thanks to Jeon's portrayal. Lines that seem trivial in the script become humorously impactful when delivered by her. The character's attempt to hide the pain of losing her youngest son years ago with a smiling face also evokes pity.

Actors transitioning from film and television to theater often face challenges, but Jeon showcases her distinctive clear diction and rich emotional acting seamlessly on stage. Her performance reaffirms that a talented actor can shine in any medium.

"The Cherry Orchard" features a diverse cast, including the enigmatic businessman Du-sik (Park Hae-soo), Do-yeong’s brother and company leader Jae-young (Son Sang-gyu), Do-yeong’s daughters Hyun-sook (Choi Hee-seo) and Hae-na (Lee Ji-hye), their cousin Young-ho (Yoo Byung-hoon), housekeeper Doo-na (Park Yoo-rim), and Dong-rim (Nam Yoon-ho), who once tutored the late son Hae-jun.

▲ The image, provided by LG Arts Center on Feb. 20, 2024, shows the cast of play "Cherry Blossom Hill," starring actress Jeon Do-yeon and Park Hae-soo. The play runs June 4 to July 7 at the LG Art Center in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The story unfolds somewhat chaotically with numerous characters entering and exiting the house, known as the annex, each with their own agendas. Conversations are frequently interrupted as characters speak only of their concerns: Du-sik urges selling the company to save the family, Do-yeong dances away her worries, Jae-young talks to an old record, Young-ho asks for money, Dong-rim rants about societal corruption, and Doo-na engages in a secret romance.

Despite the discord, the actors' performances create a strange harmony. Even amid the barrage of dialogue, the rhythm remains intact, highlighting each character’s uniqueness. The audience experiences an intriguing phenomenon of laughing despite witnessing a tragedy, thanks to the actors’ skillful delivery.

Unlike Chekhov’s original, which portrays the decline of the Russian aristocracy, this adaptation depicts the fall of South Korea's new aristocracy—the chaebols. It delves into class conflicts between the wealthy, self-made entrepreneurs, and their employees.

This imbalance is reflected in the mansion's design. The house, which Do-yeong received from her grandfather for her sixteenth birthday, is grand yet precarious. The steep stairs on one side and gentle slope on the other add to the tension as characters navigate it.

▲ This still photo of theatrical play "The Cherry Orchard," starring actress Jeon Do-yeon, is provided by LG Arts Center on June 5, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Simon Stone describes the play as reflecting South Korea's unique post-war privileges while addressing universal themes of social inequality and the conflict between wealth and poverty.

"The Cherry Orchard" will run until July 7, with a single cast.

▲ This still photo of theatrical play "The Cherry Orchard," starring actress Jeon Do-yeon, is provided by LG Arts Center on June 5, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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