Last season of musical ′Seopyeonje′ starring Miss. trot singers ticks off

Last season of musical 'Seopyeonje' starring Miss. trot singers ticks off: Contribution / 연합뉴스 / 2022-08-18 15:10:35

▲This photo provided by PAGE1 shows, a scene of 'Seopyeonje.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo provided by PAGE1 shows, a poster of 'Seopyeonje.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, August 18 (Yonhap) -- “Those who like the chant have their own stories to tell. Is there any reason why you started to chant?”

Sorikkun, (Single Performer) Songhwa who is blind cannot recognize her stepbrother who has returned home in a while. Songhwa who doesn’t know her stepbrother is back home, states unlike generic songs, which roams around your ear, Pansori (Epic Chant) comforts those with Han ((恨) unique Korean adjective describing the feeling of grief), who lived through a hardships and reach deeper into their core to provide relief of bitterness.

Musical "Seopyeonje" which is about sorrikuns journey to find the perfect sound filled with Han premiered on August 12 at BBCH hall of Kwanglim Art Center in Gangnam district of Seoul. This will be the last seasonal performance of "Seopyeonje" which first debuted on to the stage in 2010.

Songhwa who will be acted by South Korean sorrikun lee Ji-ram and musical actress Cha Ji-yeon will re appear on the stage, and Yoo Ri-ah, Hong Ja, Yang Ji-eun, Hong Ji-yoon joined the cast for the first time.

“Seopyeonje” which was created as a movie by director Im Kwon-taek is based off of writer Lee Chung-jun’s novel by the same name is about adapted daughter Songhwa who loses her sight due her sorrikun father who is obsessed with sounds and her stepbrother Dongho. When “Seopyeonje” first premiered on to the stage, it drew a lot of attention due to its unique story line and the title track “Beyond the years” is considered one of the greatest hits within the history of music released by Korean musicals.

Although the musical deals with subject Pansori, except for the “The Tale of Shim Chong” most of the songs throughout the musical are based on ballads, and rock music.

Unlike the movie, Songhwa’s brother Dongho become a contemporary musician throughout the musical.

To innocent Songwha and Dongho chant was considered one of the tools for play. However as they grew older, they are introduced with the idea of love, loss grief mixed emotion leading up to the idea of Han.

Whenever Songwha and Dongho suffers from tough emotions, father Yubong tells his kids “Remember how you feel right now, these feelings are the ones which empowers han” adding “You have to use your pain to generate the sound.”

Dongho who could not handle his father any longer, leaves the house to find his own sound, creates a rock band. Whereas Songhwa suffers from continuous training sessions, Yubong who is scared that his daughter might also leave him, blinds Songhwa so that she can stay by his side and train her chant.

Pain of losing her sight, disbelief of her situation, anger and resentment towards his father, and her dad’s death all lead up to a point where Songhwa becomes the true sorrikun with her unique sound, just like his dad wanted.

The musical compares Dongho’s band members who produce their music under the heavy influence of substances, with Songhwa who demonstrates how to become a true artist by taking in the pain coming from all the hardships in life.

Musical “Seopyeonje” encompasses not only pansori but also rock, ballad and various songs from different genres providing the audience with unique experience. Stage prop created using hanji, Korean traditional Paper emits Korean sentiment which is very different from stage props one can see throughout foreign shows and musicals.

The last scene where Songhwa sings pansori “The Tale of Shim Chong” is the highlight of the musical. Chant continued with gosu, (drummer) solo line combined with light performance of falling flower pedal supported by the orchestral music leaves long lasting impression within the audience. The musical will be continued until October 23.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Joonha Yoo)

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