Lifestyle - The Korea Times

'Black Mary Poppins' presents dark nanny story

By Kwon Mee-yoo Mary Poppins is everyone’s ideal nanny but a new homegrown musical “Black Mary Poppins” takes a different view. Inspired by Australian novelist P. L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins” series, the new production revolves around a nanny and four children she takes care of. British banker Mr. Banks is replaced by psychologist Grantschen Schwartz in Nazi Germany and the mischievous children become wounded spirits who have lost their memory due to trauma. The musical begins with a shadow play in which a nanny manipulates the children. When the curtain goes up, a simple set is revealed with layers of frames in the background, a revolving stage and four chairs on each side of the stage. A fire breaks out in Dr. Schwartz’s house and he is killed, leaving only his ashes. His four adopted children are saved by their nanny Mary Schmit, who is severely burnt, but lose their memories. A detective investigating the fire suspects Mary of arson. She then goes missing during the investigation, deepening his suspicion. The children are sent to different foster families and the case s

Jun 13, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Louvre 'Myths and Legends' comes to Korea

By Rachel Lee A collection from the Louvre, one of the world’s grandest museums, titled “2012 Exposition du Musee du Louvre,” opened at the Hangaram Art Museum of Seoul Arts Center on Tuesday. It features about 110 selected works from the famed Paris museum under the theme “Myths and Legends.” It is the second exhibition by the Louvre to be held in Korea, after the first in 2006 themed “Landscapes” had attracted some 600,000 people. This year’s show has five parts divided by subject — the time of confusion and the birth of the Olympus; the Olympian gods; the love of gods; the heroes in Roman mythology; and the lasting stories of classical mythology. Each group presents its own paintings, ceramics, sculptures and artifacts. All pieces displayed were specifically selected by three experts from the Louvre. The works on display features familiar Olympian gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Hermes, Athena and Apollo. One of the highlights is the marble “Cupid and Psyche” by Italian Antonio Canova (1757-1822) from the 18th century. The sculpture, co

Jun 13, 2012

A dancer's dream

National Ballet director wants training academy By Do Je-hae A ballet academy is pivotal to lifting Korea levels up in the global dance arena, Choi Tae-ji, artistic director of the Korea National Ballet (KNB) said. During a recent interview, Choi, 53, who is on her third term, said, “In every country where ballet has flourished, a national ballet school was established first, and then a professional company was founded as a result. "Korea and Japan are the only countries where the national ballet company does not have its own school for training dancers from ages 8-18,” the Japanese-born Korean dancer said, apologizing for her accented Korean. Young stars of Korean ballet have made strides recently with the world's foremost troupes in Europe, the U.S. and Russia. Kim Ki-min joined the legendary Mariinsky Ballet, the pride of St. Petersburg, Russia, last year. He is the first Asian male dancer ever to join the company. Seo Hee, a first Korean soloist with the American Ballet Theater, has been one of the most active ballerinas at the elite U.S. troupe this season, taki

Jun 11, 2012By Do Je-hae

Korean artists go to dOCUMENTA Kassel

By Kwon Mee-yoo Korean artists Yang Hae-gue, Moon Kyung-won and Jeon Joon-ho have been invited to dOCUMENTA (13), one of the largest contemporary art festivals in the world. Yang, based in Seoul and Berlin, presents two pieces at Kassel Central Station, as part of the 13th dOCUMENTA that started on Saturday in Kassel, Germany. Her “Approaching: Choreography Engineered in Never-Past Tense” is installed at the freight terminal. The station has not been in use for years and has opened for dOCUMENTA for the first time in decades. Yang has set up rows of black blinds over rails and a platform for 45 meters, which move up and down, making a train-like noise. Such movement of the blinds reminds one of a train coming into the station or military marching in a totalitarian state. The artist said in a statement that she recalled Kassel’s older history as a major transport hub in central Germany and contemplated the “collective memory” of industrialization commonly experienced in modern societies. Yang also staged “The Malady of Death,” based on Marguerite Duras’ novella

Jun 11, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Classical concerts

Classical Concerts Legendary I MUSICI 60th Seoul Arts Center* June 15 I Musici is an Italian chamber orchestra first formed in Rome in 1952. The chamber consists of 6 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, and one double bass. Their music mainly focuses on works from the Baroque period, particularly Antonio Vivaldi and Tomaso Albinoni. To mark its 60th anniversary, I Musici will tour the world, performing their best for the audience. Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300. Paavo Jarvi & Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra Seoul Arts Center* June 11 Germany’s traditional orchestra, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (FRSO) was founded in 1929 and Paavo Jarvi has been conducting the orchestra since 2006. With a wide-ranging musical style, the orchestra is among the best in Europe and consistently earns international acclaim. The program includes symphony and orchestral pieces and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. U.S. violinist Hillary Hahn will collaborate in this concert. Tickets cost 50,000 to 220,000 won. For more information, cal

Jun 7, 2012By Do Je-hae

Clubs

Clubs The Octagon Nonhyeon-dong This club is located near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon-dong. The venue offers a club stage, lounge bar and dining area in a hip and modern setting. Leave via exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. Call (02) 516-8847 for more information. Club Volume Itaewon Located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station, Club Volume offers the finest venue for specially themed weekly events and world-class DJs. Club Volume was listed by TIME magazine among the “10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul.” For more information, call 1544-2635. Le Nuit Blanche Cheongdam-dong Formerly Club Answer, Le Nuit Blanche is a posh restaurant, theater and club. Located in front of the Hotel Prima in Cheongdam-dong, Le Nuit Blanche offers Cirque du Soleil-type performances. World-class DJs from all over the world perform at the club. For more information, call (02) 514-4311. W.E. Listen Samcheong-dong This cafe reinterprets traditional Korean desserts. The menu not only offers American-style coffee but also sweet potato, swee

Jun 7, 2012By Do Je-hae

Korean art from US on exhibit

By Kwon Mee-yoo Korean celadon and Buddhist paintings, housed in museums overseas, have returned home temporarily for a special exhibition, “Korean Art from the United States,” at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul. Seven museums in the U.S. have Korean rooms while there is a total of 67 in 22 countries worldwide. However, experts say that the quality of Korean collections is poor compared to those from China and Japan. This exhibit highlights the history of collecting Korean artwork in the U.S. and the importance of Korean collections abroad. “Through this exhibit, we aim to review the current situation of Korean collections overseas,” said Shin So-yeon, curator of the collection. The National Museum borrowed a total of 86 artifacts from nine museums in the U.S. — the Honolulu Museum of Art; Brooklyn Museum; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Asian Art Museum, San Francisco; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Cleveland Museum of Art; Metropolitan Museum of Art; and Harvard Art Museums / Arthur M. Sackler Museum. At the beginning,

Jun 6, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Cho Seung-woo wins 3rd best actor prize

By Kwon Mee-yoo Actor Cho Seung-woo affirmed his overwhelming presence in musical theater once again by winning the Best Actor at The Musical Awards 2012, Monday, for his role of Yuri Zhivago in “Doctor Zhivago.” It’s Cho’s third trophy as Best Actor — he was named the most prominent musical actor for portraying Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha” in 2008 and Dr. Jekyll in “Jekyll and Hyde” last year. Cho, who finished “Doctor Zhivago,” Sunday, thanked the cast and crew of the musical. He joined the production just two weeks ahead of opening, after Ju Ji-hun quit due to health problems. “Doctor Zhivago,” which premiered in Australia and then headed to Seoul for another tryout, received a lukewarm reception at first, since the show was not a proven hit. However, it was Cho who reversed the situation and expressed the subtle emotions of Zhivago, a doctor and poet who loved two women, onstage. Singer-turned-actress Oak Joo-hyun received the Best Actress award for her portrayal of Austrian empress in “Elisabeth.” “Elisabeth” was the hottest musical of the year,

Jun 5, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Korean dancing teams perform in Cuba

HAVANA (Yonhap) -- Korean dancers took their moves to South America the past weekend, performing in Cuba Friday and Sunday as part of the "Korean Dances Express in Cuba and South America" program, which will also take them to Colombia and Ecuador. The Jeon Eun-ja Dance Company, Second Nature Dance Company, Dance Company Medius, Project Company House of Blue and Moves Collector's Dance Company shared a variety of Korean dance styles, ranging from traditional and modern Korean to hip-hop, at Teatro Miramar in the Cuban capital of Havana and at Teatro Jose Jacinto Milanes in Pinar del Rio. The performances received a warm welcome from both Cuban and Korean audience members. The program is jointly organized by the Korea Foundation and the Korea Headquarters of CID-UNESCO. The Korean dance groups will also go to Cali, Colombia, to participate in the sixth Inco Ballet Festival. Teams from Canada, Cuba, Spain, Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the Czech Republic and Colombia will take part in the festival. South Korea's dancers will also perform in two interna

Jun 5, 2012

Bourgeois' earlier workers explore solitude

By Kwon Mee-yoo French-American sculptor Louise Bourgeois’ earlier works are on display at “Personages,” an exhibition at the third building of Kukje Gallery in Samcheong-dong, central Seoul. These sculptures portray the solitude of a stranger. The artist is mostly known for her “Maman” series of spider-shaped sculptures, which symbolize maternal instinct. In Korea, “Maman” can be seen at Leeum in Hannam-dong, Seoul. However, this exhibit does not feature a single spider sculpture, but a herd of abstract works and a cage-like structure, giving a contrast yet a continuing theme of Bourgeois’ style throughout her life. This is Bourgeois’ fifth solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery and the first in Korea after her passing in 2010 at the age of 98. Upon entering the gallery, 13 longish sculptures greet visitors. They are installed on the floor and are the height of an average person, giving visitors the sensation of being in a crowd of people. These are the “Personages” series, the first of her sculptural works exhibited from 1949. Born in Paris in 1911, Bourgeois

Jun 4, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater