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‘Art‘ comes to Seoul with subtitles

By John Redmond This spring, English theater company, Probationary Theatre, will be bringing the 1998 Tony award winning comedy “Art” to Seoul from March 30 to April 8 at White Box Theatre in Yongsan. The play has been performed in Seoul before, in both English and Korean, but this will be the first time the play will be accessible to both English and Korean audiences through the use of subtitles. This 80-minute contemporary classic by Yasmina Reza tells the tale of three male friends, Yvan, Marc and Serge, whose friendship is tested when Serge purchases a piece of art for 200,000 francs (about 180,000 million won). The artwork in question is a white canvas with a white background and a white diagonal line on it. Serge refers to the painting as “simple, but at the same time magnetic.” Marc is a little less subtle and Yvan is confused. “In the space of 80 minutes the audience will be taken on a journey questioning the meaning of art, friendship, and the price we are willing to pay for both,” director Desiree Munro says. “The play (originally written in F

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Mannam to host charity event

By John Redmond Mannam Volunteer Association is to host a charity concert to help children with AIDS in South Africa, under the title of “Mannam Blossoms Hope in South Africa.” The concert is to take place on April 7 at Korea University on the 5th floor of the Science Library in Seoul from 7–9 p.m. “Performers of different nationalities, languages, and religions will become one to deliver the message of hope and love for the children with AIDS in South Africa,” said a volunteer from the group. “The purpose of the concert is to support South African children with AIDS while bringing people from different cultures together through music.” The United Nations reported that South Africa accounted for 32 percent of the world’s HIV/AIDS population in 2007. The percentage of the female children with HIV/AIDS was very high. AIDS in South Africa is predominantly transmitted by two main infection routes: through mother-to-child transmissions and sexual violence. For this reason, many children in South Africa have been born with AIDS. Half of the children die before th

Kiwis, an FTA and Key

By Agnes Yu This year is the New Zealand Korea Year of Friendship and also marks the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt Hon John Key will be attending the second Nuclear Security Summit held at the COEX in Seoul this month on the 26th and 27th. He will also hold a bilateral meeting with President Lee Myung-bak to discuss further strengthening the relationship between the two countries. According to the party’s website, Prime Minister Key said, "We have strong and wide ranging ties with Korea. One of the aims of my visit will be to progress negotiations on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement. Korea is our fifth largest trading partner, with two-way trade worth around $3 billion. A free trade agreement between the two countries would unlock the potential for greater trade, investment and people flows between our two countries." Also during his visit, the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Korea will host the prime minister in a breakfast speech on the morning of Monday, March 26. Prime Minister Key will address over 80 ch

Cut Glass stages ‘Rita‘

By John Redmond Cut Glass Theatre announces their upcoming production of an inspirational modern classic, Willy Russell’s “Educating Rita.“ Founded by a Canadian, an Englishman, and an American, Cut Glass aims to bring classic texts to the theatergoers of Seoul. Set in England during the 1980s, “Educating Rita” tells the story of a ladies hairdresser who decides to study literature. Unwillingly aided by a sometimes drunk and disillusioned professor, and challenged by a husband who insists that she stay home to have a baby, Rita sets out on a journey to change herself and throw off the shackles of her upbringing. The play deals with the concept of freedom, change, England's class system, the shortcomings of institutional education, and the nature of self-development and of personal relationships. It also borrows from the George Bernard Shaw play “Pygmalion,” itself based upon archetypes from Greek myth. Brought to you by the expat company that recently produced “The Importance of Being Earnest,” this delightful comedy by Willy Russell explores the themes of class,

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