Plays starring veteran actors to hit theaters this fall

A scene from the play, “Manseon: The Yearning of a Fisherman” / Courtesy of the National Theater of Korea

By Park Ji-won

A series of plays performed by veteran actors and put together by skilled production teams will hit local theaters in fall, moving people's hearts with their mature performances. The play, “Manseon: The Yearning of a Fisherman,” written by Chun Seung-se and performed by the National Theater of Korea (NTCK), is currently running at the NTCK from Sept. 3 to 19.

The work is about a fisherman who dreams about making a fortune with a full load of fish ― white croakers specifically ― while he struggles against both poverty and his own ego. The work first premiered in July 1964 and was scheduled to be showcased again last year to mark the 70th anniversary of the acting troupe that first performed it. But it was delayed to this year due to the pandemic.

To celebrate the anniversary of the play's first performance by the original acting troupe, veteran actors will play lead roles. The fisherman Gomchi will be played by Kim Myung-soo, who has been playing various roles in TV series and films and used to be a member of the NTCK and Gupodaek; and Gomchi's wife will be played by Jung Kyung-soon, a veteran actress who has performed in various series and films such as, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.”

The poster for “King Lear” / Courtesy of Park Company

The 86-year-old actor, Lee Soon-jae, will play the lead role of King Lear in the play of the same name at the Seoul Arts Center from Oct. 30 to Nov. 21. The Shakespeare classic shows the aspects of life through the lead character, who was supposed to retire and peacefully see out his twilight years, but all of a sudden faces a tragedy after dividing up his land and distributing it to his three daughters. The casting of Lee, who has been actively performing on multiple platforms, makes him the oldest actor to play Lear in Korea.

“Cinderella,” a new piece written by veteran playwright Lee Kang-baek, who wrote “The Watchman” (1973) and “Oh God! (O, mapsosa)” (2000), is currently being performed at the Art One Theater from Sept. 2 to 12. The play is inspired by the famous story of “Cinderella,” centering on a red shoe, which symbolizes human desire. Performed by all female actresses, up to 21 segments express the lives of women through the journey of the show.

Veteran actresses Kim Hwa-young and Kang Ae-shim star in the play, written by the 73-year-old author, Lee, who debuted 50 years ago.