Jang Jin Comedy Where Men Play Female Characters

[Anchor]

Director Jang Jin's signature comedy play "The Secret of the Flowers" is taking the stage with its first-ever gender-free casting.

From the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's free outdoor concert to a new production by the Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater, Kim Soo-hyun, culture and arts specialist reporter, brings us the details.

[Reporter]

[Play "The Secret of the Flowers" / Through Nov. 29 / Link Art Center Bugs Hall]

Set in an Italian rural village, a commotion ensues when patriarchal husbands suddenly disappear in mysterious accidents, prompting their wives to disguise themselves as their husbands to collect insurance money.

Director Jang Jin's comedy play "The Secret of the Flowers" has introduced gender-free casting for the first time this season. Along with female actors such as Jung Kyung-soon, Park Haseon, Yoo Sun, and Choo Gwi-jung, male actors including Jung Woong-in and Sung Ji-ru are taking on the roles of the wives.

The dual structure where male actors play female characters, who in turn disguise themselves as men within the play, adds a fascinating layer.

[Jang Jin / Writer and Director of "The Secret of the Flowers": When I was writing it, the reason I wanted male actors to play female characters was actually a bit different from the meaning of the word 'gender-free' that people talk about these days. What it really was about was wanting to push the limits of theatrical illusion on stage.]

[Sung Ji-ru / Playing Sophia: From a woman's perspective, a wife's perspective, thinking 'If I were in this position, I would want to vent like this, it would feel so refreshing,' and things like that. But even as I play that role and deliver those lines, I actually feel that sense of release.]

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[Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater's "Mugamseogi" / Through the 13th / Sejong Grand Theater]

The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theater has premiered its new work "Mugamseogi," which newly interprets the purifying and healing meanings of shamanic rituals based on Seoul gut.

The title "Mugamseogi" refers to the improvised dance performed by the person who commissioned the ritual, who puts on a shaman's costume toward the end of the ceremony.

This production expresses Mugamseogi as a modern ritual where individuals observe their own inner selves and gain the strength to live on.

Composer Lee Ha-neul took charge of the music, attempting dance music for the first time, while Kimu Gun, who rose to stardom through a dance audition program, participated as assistant choreographer and dancer.

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[Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Park Concert / 19th / Seoul Children's Grand Park Forest Stage]

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's Park Concert will be held this year at the Forest Stage of Seoul Children's Grand Park.

Music Director Jaap van Zweden will lead the orchestra, performing familiar classical masterpieces such as the Die Fledermaus Overture and The Blue Danube, as well as film scores and musical numbers.

Pianist Suh Hae-kyung and musical theater actor Choi Jae-rim will participate as guest performers, and the concert is free and open to anyone without prior reservation or booking.

(Video by Oh Se-gwan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.