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| A scene from Lee Seung-hee's "In a Dream ― I, A Hitchhiker with a Reason" / Courtesy of Doosan Art Center |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
As a practitioner of pansori, a traditional narrative musical genre, Lee Seung-hee is familiar with the five existing repertoires of pansori ― Chunhyangga, Simcheongga, Heungbuga, Sugungga and Jeokbyeokga. Also as a contemporary woman living in the 21st century with a new found focus on women's rights on the agenda in Korea, Lee found some uncomfortable elements in the traditional plots.
So she started digging into the story and text of "Chunhyangga," the best-known pansori repertoire and her favorite. Instead of adding a modern twist, Lee went back to the basics, questioning what the tradition to inherit is and how to resonate with contemporary audiences while maintaining the essence of the original.
In her earlier work "In a Dream" in 2018, Lee intensively explored the protagonist Chunhyang as an individual who determines her own fate and what takes place inside the character's mind through her dreams.
Lee's interest shifts to Hyangdan, handmaiden of Chunhyang, in her new work "In a Dream ― I, A Hitchhiker with a Reason." While one of Korea's most famous female protagonists takes the limelight, Hyangdan faithfully serves and cares for her mistress whenever, wherever.
"In a Dream ― I, A Hitchhiker with a Reason" begins with Hyangdan's letter she left after returning to Chunhyang from the future.
Back in her time, Hyangdan visits her mistress Chunhyang, severely beaten, after Chunhyang is jailed for refusing the new magistrate Byeon's request to serve him. Feeling helpless, Hyangdan is transported in a dream to Seoul in 2020.
"When I first worked on the first 'In a Dream,' Chunhyang looked sad and pitiful. However, as I delved into the story deeper, Chunhyang seemed to be portrayed just as an ideal woman of her time. I didn't think that Chunhyang sacrificed herself just for the love of her fiance Mong-ryong. So I tried to fathom her heart, deep down, through her dreams," Lee said.
After exploring the inner side of Chunhyang as an independent woman, Lee's mind landed on Hyangdan, who was always at Chunhyang's side.
"I was immersed in Chunhyang when creating and performing 'In a Dream,' but I realized that I was closer to Hyangdan," she said.
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| A scene from Lee Seung-hee's "In a Dream ― I, A Hitchhiker with a Reason" / Courtesy of Doosan Art Center |
However, there were few details about Hyangdan in the original "Chunhyangga," except for a basic introduction ― an orphan who became Chunhyang's maid when young.
"When we tried to create a story within the original setting, it was like our hands and feet were tied ― Hyangdan was not able to do anything on her own due to restrictions of social status and gender. So we decided to bring her to our time," Lee said.
In 2020, Hyangdan meets an "Eonni," a Korean word for elder sister or woman, an unnamed woman who takes Hyangdan to her home and provides support. Hyangdan tries to do something for herself, not for her mistress, and finds part-time jobs.
At 5 a.m., she works as a cleaner at an office, before other people come to work. At noon, she makes numerous cups of various drinks at a coffee shop. In the evening, she cooks at a fast food restaurant, following the manual. Hyangdan's adventure in the present world is amusingly portrayed in the collaboration between the singer and the drummer.
"Hyangdan sees a variety of people in 2020. Some are mean, some are sorrowful. She also finds a sense of security, living with Eonni," Lee explained.
The music style also varies along her journey. When the singer narrates Hyangdan's original story, it is more in traditional style, while the unlikely sounds of bass guitar and other instruments are used during Hyangdan's dream.
Lee said she will continue to explore characters in the five traditional repertoires of pansori as well as other classics.
"There are so many characters in pansori, living their own life. I want to explore them with a fresh perspective," Lee said. "I am also working on a pansori version of Les Miserables. I completed a part telling the story of Fantine and plan to present two more female characters, before reciting the pansori Les Miserables in its entirety."
"In a Dream ― I, A Hitchhiker with a Reason" runs through Friday. This performance is part of the DAC Artist, the center's artist incubating program supporting emerging artists.
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