Other side to Empress Myeongseong
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A scene from “The Last Empress”
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Empress Myeongseong (1851-1895) is one of the most intriguing figures in Korea's modern history. Also known as Queen Min in her time, she is the wife of King Gojong, the 26th king of Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) and the first emperor of the Korean Empire (1897-1910).
Interestingly, two theatrical acts centering on the last queen of Joseon are staged simultaneously at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul ― "The Last Empress" at the Opera Theater and "Lost Face 1895" at the CJ Towol Theater, which share the same building. "The Last Empress" is truer to historical facts, while "Lost Face 1895" spices up the story with imagination.
She was a woman of controversy in a chaotic age as Joseon faced foreign intrusion on its way to modernization during her reign. Empress Myeongseong was judged in many different ways historically. She was the woman who sent Joseon to its doom for personal greed and drew in the foreign influences of China, Japan and Russia, meddling with politics. At the same time, she was the queen who tried to defend the country amid the struggle among the world powers, and foresaw the future of modernization.
The empress also was wedged between Heungseon Daewongun, her father-in-law and regent, and Gojong, her husband and weak-minded king ― both were not able to protect the queen amid the convulsion of the political situation.
Last Empress
"The Last Empress," directed by Yun Ho-jin and produced by Acom International, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The musical, which portrays Empress Myeongseong as the last queen of Joseon who tried to save the country amid the invasion of foreign powers, has been a staple in Korean theater for two decades and toured New York and London, drawing more than 1.6 million spectators overall.
The musical basically describes historical events revolving around the empress from the Imo Incident in 1882, in which old military members revolted against the queen, to the assassination of Empress Myeongseong, also known as the Eulmi Incident in 1895.
The 20th anniversary edition of the show features state-of-the-art technology to present visual spectacles of Korean traditional culture. The highlight is the party of King Gojong and Queen Min with foreign ambassadors to Korea, which is juxtaposed with Japanese lieutenant general Miura Goro's plot to assassinate the queen on the ascending stage.
Costumes portray the glamour of Joseon's court fashion with gilt patterns and traditional Korean dance graces scenes such as the soldiers' training and exorcism performance praying for the queen to have a son.
Actresses Kim So-hyun and Shin Young-sook alternate the role of Empress Myeongseong. "The Last Empress" runs through Sept. 10. Tickets cost from 60,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2250-5900.
A scene from “Lost Face 1895”
Lost Face 1895
While "The Last Empress" is more true to historical facts and takes on a nationalistic view on Empress Myeongseong, "Lost Face 1895" spices up the story with imagination and approaches the empress in a multi-faceted way.
"Lost Face 1895" begins from the fact that Empress Myeongseong did not leave a single photo. There were a few photos suspected to be the last queen of Joseon, but none of them were confirmed to be Empress Myeongseong.
Dramatist Jang Sung-hee interweaved the political, personal status of the queen with a love story of her lady-in-waiting Seon-hwa and Seon-hwa's lover and photographer Hwi.
While “The Last Empress” just recites historical events and the queen is portrayed in a passive way, “Lost Face 1895” brings in two narrators ― photographer Hwi representing ordinary people and the queen’s cousin Min Young-ik on the empress’ side ― to give more diversified views.
The set and costume are also modern and minimal. The stage is composed of layers of frames as if symbolizing the multi-layered assessment regarding the queen. Instead of recreating traditional garments as they are originally, the costumes are simplified to represent the queen as a woman.
/ Graphic by Cho Sang-won
Actress Cha Ji-yeon portrays Empress Myeongseong in “Lost Face 1895.” The show runs through Sept. 10. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 523-0984.