Top musical actor Park Geon-hyeong will make his debut in the play “Fool for Love” at SM Art Hall in Daehangno, central Seoul, from July 6 to Sept. 12. / Courtesy of Aga Company

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Top musical actor Park Geon-hyeong will make his debut in the play "Fool For Love" as the opening performance of a drama festival to be staged in Daehangno.

The Broadway play written by American playwright Sam Shepard will be adapted by veteran producer and director Cho Kwang-hwa who has previously directed the musicals "Claws of Angle," "Soridoduk" and "Harmonium in My Heart."

The play revolves around the relationship between two lovers ― Eddie and May ― who are half-siblings and focuses on the yearnings, violence and inner struggles of the couple who are in conflict but complementary rather than just the basic love and hate existing between them.

Park will take the role of Eddie in the play. He has a strong fan base for numerous hit musicals such as "Saturday Night Fever," "Wedding Singer," "Mozart!" and films "Dancing Princess" and "Ddukbang Legend."

Park's huge popularity was proved once again when the play topped in ticket reservations within 30 minutes after the ticket sales opened last month.

Not only Park but also celebrated actors Han Jung-soo, Cho Dong-hyuk, Kim Hyo-jin and Kim Jung-hwa will perform together in the play.

The original play premiered at the Magic Theater in San Francisco in 1983 and was staged in the Circle Repertory Theater and Douglas Fairbanks Theater afterwards.

The work was also made into a film version starring Kim Basinger and Sam Shepard in 1985 and was invited to the Cannes International Film Festival. The drama was also performed at the Apollo Theater in 2006 in England including Juliette Lewis in the cast.

The Aga Company will present eight plays for nine months at the Play Festival 2010 titled "I Love the Stage." The festival is designed to boost the small theater works and develop the local theater culture as a whole.

"We will portray the meaning of true love through love today," the company said in a statement.

The play will be on stage at SM Art Hall in Daehangno, central Seoul, from July 6 to Sept. 12. Tickets cost 40,000 won. For more information, call (02) 764-8760.