Controversial Santa Play to Be on Stage
By John Redmond
Contributing writer
With so much going wrong with the economy, it's a relief to many foreigners that Christmas is just around the corner. But even at the North Pole things are not what they seem.
A dark Christmas comedy, the play is set to hit the stage at the VFW in Haebangcheon in Seoul starting Sunday at 8 p.m.
Scandal erupts at the North Pole when one of Santa's eight tiny reindeer accuses him of sexual harassment. This dark comedy features the eight reindeer talking about Santa.
Critically acclaimed ``The Eight: Reindeer Monologues'' by Jeff Goode is a rather off-beat perspective on the idyllic world of Santa Clause and those close to him.
Although dealing with the subject of Santa Clause, the play deals with content that is definitely not suitable for children. There are very controversial themes that some could consider offensive.
The Seoul adaptation of the play was directed by Ed Miller who first saw the work in Philadelphia in 2005. In an interview with The Korea Times, he explained that his reason for choosing this work was to do something different for Christmas.
He said, ``Maggie (Whittum) and I talked about putting on some type of Christmas show but didn't want to do one that was so well known and perhaps cliched. I thought of this show immediately. What impressed me was how outside the usual vein of Christmas shows it was and mostly, it's shock value.
``By taking characters that we feel we already know, such as Santa and his reindeer, and putting them in a very serious and adult situation it challenges our views of the characters as well as our perceptions of subject matter we would never associate with them.''
Praising the wealth of talent in Seoul, he went on further to stress the high quality of talent in Korea.
``I was amazed by the amount of talent that came out to audition. We had around 40 people try out for the show. It was difficult to make the final selections because there were 2 or 3 people who would have been quite good for each role. The challenge was trying to assemble a cast that all at once complimented and differentiated each other and that is what was achieved with this cast,'' he said.
Asked about his background in theater, he said, ``I've been involved in film and theater in Philadelphia for 10 years and have been active with Seoul Players and Seoul City Improv during my three years here in Seoul. I credit all the directors I've worked with during this time in shaping my approach to direction.
``Although I've taken various classes in my time, I don't hold a degree in theater and this maybe effects how I view shows. I like to view them as an event, which is different than a show in my opinion.''
He feels that in creating this event, ``we wrote and produced video and incorporated live music as well. By doing this we were able to bring artists who would normally be involved in one art form to bring their unique talents to this production. The feeling of community is strengthened in the process and connections are made that can inspire future projects.''
The story takes some unexpected and altogether unwholesome twists and turns, and Santa may end up on the Naughty List permanently.
With a cast of eight strong willed Reindeer, and several actors from Seoul City Improv, this darkly comic tour of the North Pole's sordid underbelly is sure to entertain. MW Productions is a newly formed production company focusing on theater in English for the ex-pat community in Seoul.
The play runs at the VFW in Haebangcheon from Nov. 30 to Dec. 14.
Show times are Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Running time of the play is one and a half hours.
Tickets cost 10,000 won. To reserve, call 010-2660-2646 or email
Further information call Margaret Whittum on 010-7219-2534 /
The VFW is halfway up the street in Haebangcheon opposite the Orange Tree.