Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
'80-year-old' actress plays her last 'Maude' in play 'Harold and Maude'
Actress Park Jung-ja, who plays Maude in the play “Harold and Maude,” speaks during a press conference held to promote the play at Page Myeongdong, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Poster for the play “Harold and Maude” / Courtesy of Seensee Company
Park Jung-ja, a veteran actress who has been playing the 79-year-old woman Maude from the play “Harold and Maude,” originally written by Collin Higgins, bids farewell to the role this year with its upcoming performance in May, as she turns 80 in real life.
The first Korean run of the play in 1987 featured veteran actress Kim Hye-ja, but Park has played the role six times now ― in five plays and one musical ― and it has become one of her most famous roles.
“Nobody forced me to quit the role at age 80. But I made the decision as part of my personal project to make a beautiful end after seeing how audiences like this play every time I meet them … Back then, I thought 80 was far away from me. Then I turned 80 and am here now. I thought I would be mature at that age. But I am not. So my Maude may not be better than previous performances, but I would do my best because I am just thankful to everyone and myself to be able to be here,” Park said during a press conference held to promote the play at Page Myeongdong, Seoul, Monday.
The dark-comedy play centers on the 20-year-old death-obsessed Harold who falls in love with 79-year-old life-affirming Maude. Having a friendly and romantic relationship with Maude, Harold discovers the meaning of life and love. Producer Park Myung-sung of Seensee Company and director and actress Yoon Suk-hwa also joined the project.
Park, who has been performing for the show with various male partners including Kang Ha-neul in 2014 and 2015, will be partnering with two rising stars: Lim Jun-hyuk and Oh Seung-hoon. The play has been helping as an incubator for hatchling actors who later become stars.
Stressing that Maude is Park's role model, Park said “Maude is not polluted at all and owns nothing. She decides to take her own life on her 80th birthday. Making a choice in life is a huge challenge for me and I admire her courage … I hope audiences could be empowered by Maude or myself and think 'I want to live like that.'”
“It is an absurdist play about life which is full of irony and the nonsensical. Harold, who has been excluded from life and is suicidal, finds life through Maude who is about to let go of life. For those young people who feel isolated, we hope that this play can restore the meaning of love. For those who are over 50, we hope this work can give you the imagination that we can live a beautiful, simple life,” Yoon said.
Yoon said she didn't have much to add to Park's performance because she was already prepared to show her Maude. “I wanted Park to play Maude as if Park played it for the first time in 2003. But she already returned to 2003 and played the role during the practice.”
Amid the flood of online content showing performances, Park stressed that the idea of performing online is “hideous” because plays should remain a live medium.
“Performances and plays should prioritize audiences, who are smarter than actresses. Recently, performances are filmed and released online. But I think it is hideous. Maybe I am not mature enough, but I think plays should remain in analog form. Plays mustn't be digitized.”
“Harold and Maude” will run at KT&G's Sangsangmadang Daechi Art Hall in Seoul, from May 1 to 23.