Korean 'Les Miserables' brings timeless tale

Enjolras (Kim Woo-hyung), center, and the ensemble of the firstr Korean production of “Les Miserables” sing “One Day More.” The musical runs through Nov. 25 at Poeun Art Hall in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province and will travel to Keimyung Art Center in Daegu, Sohyang Art Center in Busan and Blue Square in Seoul. / Courtesy of Les Miserables Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The curtain went up on the first all Korean production of “Les Miserables” on Nov. 3 at Poeun Art Hall in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, some 27 years after the English production opened at London’s Barbican Centre in 1985.

Based on French author Victor Hugo’s eponymous novel, the entirety of “Les Miserables” is sung.

The Korean lyrics tried to put as much meaning in the constrictive medium but they sometime failed to convey the delicacy of the rhymes or maintain coherency with the music as with the original lyrics.

The actors were generally good but did not surpass expectations. Instead of embodying their roles, they seemed rather consumed by the epic of the musical. Considering that the show is still doing previews, the actors will hopefully learn through experience before coming to Seoul.

Comedian-turned-musical actor Chung Sung-hwa played Valjean. His portrayal of the younger Valjean, or prisoner 24601, was a bit monotonous. But his version of “Bring Him Home” resonated deeply with the audience when he decides to save Marius, a student who loves his foster daughter Cosette.

Moon Jong-won’s Javert portrays the agony of the inspector chasing Valjean, confused by his goodwill. His diction was sometimes unclear but he had a charismatic presence.

Fantine is played by Cho Jung-eun, the diva of Korean musical theater. Cho managed to intensely convey her desperation to save her daughter Cosette.

The Thenardiers stole their scenes, especially Park Jun-myun as Madame Thenardier. The stout, unscrupulous woman captivated the audience from the moment she appeared onstage.

However, Park Ji-yeon’s Eponine, is the jewel of this production. Her portrayal is strong and bashful at the same time, especially as she reveals her secret crush on Marius through “On My Own.”

Budding lovers Marius (Jo Sang-woong) and Cosette (Lee Ji-soo) seemed a little awkward yet they added energy to the show. Jo’s “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” reverberated with loneliness as he sang of being the only survivor of the student revolutionary.

The leader of the students, Enjolras, played by Kim Woo-hyung, was upstanding and filled with ambitions to change the world.

Director Laurence Connor, visiting Korea to attend the show’s opening, said the actors have progressed rapidly. He previously worked with Korean performers in “Miss Saigon” in 2006.

“It is incredible to see just how well they dramatized (this show) and they have become proper, legitimate storytellers. It was an honor to witness the journey,” Connor said.

The set is quite different from the original production, without the signature revolving stage. Instead, four sliding panels, two towers and projections on a backdrop are employed.

The set designer Matt Kinley was inspired by Hugo’s paintings and created the projections, which look like moving painted backdrops to describe scenes such as Javert jumping from a bridge or Valjean taking Marius into the sewers.

The newly-opened Poeun Art Hall has good facilities overall but the sound of the orchestra and the cast of “Les Miserables,” top musical actors in Korea, was a bit dull and did not resonate as one would expect.

Nonetheless, “Les Miserable” is a masterpiece and Korean audiences can finally enjoy the great music and songs in their mother tongue.

The show runs through Nov. 25 at Poeun Art Hall and will travel to Keimyung Art Center in Daegu (Dec. 8-Jan. 19, 2013) and Sohyang Art Center in Busan (Feb. 14-March 10). It will then be performed at Blue Square in Hannam-dong, Seoul, from April 9.

Tickets cost from 70,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, visit www.lesmis.co.kr.