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Unveiling the genius behind puppets in musical 'Benjamin Button'
Singer-actor Shim Chang-min plays Benjamin Button in the musical "Benjamin Button." The puppet, created by designer Moon Su-ho, depicts Benjamin's early stages of life as an old man. Courtesy of EMK Musical Company
By Pyo Kyung-min
On a moving train bound for Chicago, Blue, an old woman with dementia, encounters a young boy who strikes her as strangely familiar. When she asks for his name, the boy introduces himself as "Benjamin."
Struggling to recall who Benjamin is, Blue listens as the child begins to recount their shared moments, setting the stage for a tale that unfolds in the new musical, "Benjamin Button."
Produced by Korea's EMK Musical Company, the musical is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1922 short story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." Like the original work, the story follows Benjamin Button, a mysterious man who is born as an old man but grows younger as he ages.
Abandoned by his parents due to his peculiar nature, Benjamin eventually finds refuge at a bar at the age of nine, where he meets Blue, a traveling singer of the same age. Despite Benjamin's appearance, the two quickly form a close bond that gradually blossoms into love.
Actor Kim Jae-bum plays Benjamin Button in the musical "Benjamin Button." The puppet on stage represents Benjamin in his later stages of life as he accompanies his lover, Blue, on a train for Chicago. Courtesy of EMK Musical Company
The musical's poignant love story offers a glimmer of hope for a destined encounter, even to those who refuse to believe in love. The journey of a man who defies time in search of life's "sweet spot" tugs greatly at the audience's emotions.
Significantly contributing to this emotional nature of "Benjamin Button" is the creative use of stage puppets.
Covering Benjamin's entire lifespan, the muscial creatively employs wooden puppets to depict Benjamin at various life stages, overcoming the limitations of casting actors of different ages.
The three actors playing Benjamin — or more like the spirit of Benjamin — are Shim Chang-min of TVXQ!, Kim Jae-bum and Kim Sung-sik. Instead of stepping forward, they stand behind the puppets representing different life stages, deftly manipulating their facial expressions and movements like widening their eyes or opening their mouths. Additional cast members also contribute by animating the puppets' arms and legs.
These puppetry techniques substantially contribute to the enchanting, fairytale-like ambiance of the musical. As actors interact with the puppets, the wooden dolls seamlessly meld into the performance, crafting a captivating illusion of life.
Puppet designer Moon Su-ho / Courtesy of Moon Su-ho
Successfully serving as special actors onstage, these puppets were crafted by Korean puppet designer Moon Su-ho.
Initially specializing in Western art, Moon's passion for alternative theater led him to pursue further studies in puppetry and contemporary drama at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (DAMU).
In a written interview with The Korea Times, Moon revealed that in his artistic process, observation serves as the wellspring of inspiration.
"Although it varies from piece to piece, typically, the process of creating a work starts with observation. I observe people and situations almost habitually. By gathering data in this way, I can recall characters and situations as needed. The objects thus created are expressed in various forms such as theater, film, exhibitions, mime, music and sculpture," Moon said.
Moon's involvement in the "Benjamin Button" stemmed from his collaboration with the show's director Cho Kwang-hwa in 2016.
"I worked on several productions utilizing puppets alongside director Cho since the a showcase for the 'Benjamin Button' musical back in 2016,'" Moon said. "Through this process, I was able to conduct various puppetry experiments on stage and engage in the realization of accumulated ideas, leading to a natural involvement in the musical."
Actor Kim Sung-sik rehearses for the musical "Benjamin Button" with a puppet symbolizing different life stages of his character Benjamin. Courtesy of EMK Musical Company
Moon expressed deep satisfaction as he reflected on the seamless integration of his puppets into the performance. He vividly recalled the initial stages of crafting some 10 puppets for the stage.
"I recall the day I brought dried wood, received from an acquaintance in the Czech Republic, into my workshop. Sunlight streaming through the morning workshop window illuminated the wood," Moon recounted.
"I pondered whether these pieces of wood, once towering trees in a distant forest, may recall basking in the sunlight as they perform under the stage lights as puppets. I envisioned them savoring a similar radiant moment but in a different guise."
Moon attributed the brilliance of his puppets to the actors who breathed life into them.
"Puppets can become both good and bad actors depending on their fellow performers. Think of them as actors influenced by their colleagues. Thanks to the actors of the musical 'Benjamin Button,' the puppets are evolving into good actors, and I am grateful for that," he remarked.
Introducing puppets into a live musical performance is still relatively uncharted territory on the Korean stage. Aware of this potential unfamiliarity, Moon carefully considered the roles the puppets should play onstage.
"In the musical 'Benjamin Button,' puppetry underscores a cozy, fairy-tale ambiance. Hence, I aimed for an image that didn't lean too heavily into childishness. To address this, I focused on crafting pieces that demanded precision. I believed that by intricately sculpting and layering millions of strokes with hand tools, I could achieve a balance of creativity and authenticity," he explained.
A pair of small puppets for the musical "Benjamin Button" / Courtesy of EMK Musical Company
Moon expressed hopes that his efforts would transform any initial unfamiliarity felt by the audience into a refreshing and positive experience. He confidently embraced the doubts, aligning them with his belief that "experimenting is key in theater."
"While new elements may initially feel unfamiliar, I believe they enrich the overall theatrical experience beyond mere immersion. Experimentation with innovation is a fundamental aspect of theater," the designer declared.
"Consider the early days of musicals, where initial criticism may have included remarks about a lack of immersion during songs. However, these ongoing experimentations within the theater are what allow us to deepen our appreciation of the arts including opera and musicals."
Brimming with innovative attempts, the musical "Benjamin Button" runs through June 30 at the Sejong Center's M Theater.