“Acting in a play is physically tough. I've lost 4kg so far. I consider it a ‘happy diet’.”
Lee Young-ae (54), who returned to the stage after 32 years, was sincere about her experience in theater. Although she mentioned the difficulties, there was a sense of happiness in her words.
On the 7th, LG Arts Center opened the play ‘Hedda Gabler’ to celebrate its 25th anniversary. The classic masterpiece by the world-renowned playwright Henrik Ibsen, ‘Hedda Gabler’ radically explores the psychology of a woman yearning for freedom amidst social constraints and oppression, focusing on the 36 hours surrounding Hedda's return from her honeymoon.
Lee Young-ae has performed five shows so far. She expressed, “Since it's been decades since I last did a play, I can't feel completely full from the start, but I hope many people will come to see it one or two more times,” adding, “Thank you for your interest. I am working harder to present diverse aspects every time you come to see it.”
This is Lee Young-ae's return to theater after 32 years since her performance in ‘Jajangmyeon’ in 1993. There are various expectations, concerns, worries, and curiosities from the audience regarding her theatrical performance.
Lee Young-ae stated, “I believe there are many reactions, and I am grateful for the positive feedback. I feel that I can act because I am on such a big stage with experienced fellow actors,” and added, “As the performances continue, my acting in the play becomes more natural, and I start to think about how to use the stage based on the audience's reactions. I am gaining the composure to build my character well in terms of positioning and acting.”
The play ‘Hedda Gabler’ allows the audience to delve into various human emotions through detailed stories presented by diverse characters over approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
The performance consists of a 75-minute first act, a 15-minute intermission, and a 65-minute second act. It is certainly not an easy acting journey. The expressions of the ‘Hedda Gabler’ actors are enlarged on a screen through a live camera, directly conveying their performances to the audience. The large screen on the minimal stage enhances the audience's immersion.
Lee Young-ae remarked, “Since the stage is wide, the audience watches our performance on the screen. While it compensates for the disadvantages of a large stage, it is a bit disappointing that it is not easy to act while looking directly into the audience's eyes,” and added, “However, thanks to my experience with camera (screen) acting, I don't find it very difficult to be seen by the audience through the screen. My experience with camera acting has been very helpful.”
Nevertheless, Lee Young-ae mentioned, “It is physically tough to continue acting for quite a long time. I am trying to strengthen my stamina for the performance. As a result, I have lost 4kg. I consider it a happy diet,” she said with a smile.
Lee Young-ae has built various characters through diverse genres of TV shows such as ‘Sympathy for Lady Vengeance’, ‘Dae Jang Geum’, ‘Spring Days’, and ‘Joint Security Area (JSA)’. Recently, she has appeared in ‘Gugyeongi’ (JTBC) in 2021 and ‘Maestra’ (tvN) in 2023. She is also set to appear in ‘Eunsu's Good Day’ (KBS2) scheduled to air in October this year, along with ‘The Lady Dae Jang Geum’.
Due to her active engagements, she had to delay her return to the theater scene. She shared, “There have been offers for plays in between, but I declined due to timing issues and also had concerns about whether I could do well.”
Returning as ‘Hedda’, Lee Young-ae expressed her goals for this theatrical performance, saying, “I think I should not forget my lines and proceed step by step as practiced. I plan to follow the manual,” and added, “The more I perform, the more I become familiar with the situation and can enjoy the stage. I am trying to act with composure.”
This performance at LG Arts Center Seoul is adapted by Richard Eyre, who has won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Director and Best Revival, and is directed by Jeon In-cheol, known for winning the 54th Dong-A Theatre Award for directing and for his meticulous text analysis.
Director Jeon In-cheol is expected to awaken ‘Hedda’ with a modern sensibility. He plans to capture the complex psychology and anxieties of our lives in modern society within the multi-layered inner world of ‘Hedda’, sharply portraying the conflicts that recur within the social structure through surrounding characters.
Lee Young-ae commented, “The director makes the actors feel comfortable. We are freely sharing opinions and harmonizing,” and added, “It is true that acting in a play is tough, but I think my desire to do well makes me work harder and strive for more. My perspective on acting has broadened, and I have gained confidence and hope that I can do well in other works as well,” showcasing a humility that is rare for a veteran actor.
Lee Young-ae is deeply immersed in theatrical acting. She expressed, “If given the opportunity, I would like to perform in a small theater where I can breathe closer to the audience and exchange glances,” envisioning her future.
The play ‘Hedda Gabler’ will be performed at LG Arts Center Seoul, LG SIGNATURE Hall until June 8.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
