What would 'Jekyll and Hyde' be like as a one-man play instead of a musical?
On the afternoon of the 11th, a press call for the play 'Jekyll and Hyde' was held at TOM 2 in Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. After a scene demonstration, a discussion was held with director Lee Jun-woo and actors Choi Jung-won, Ko Hoon-jung, Baek Seok-kwang, and Kang Gi-dong.
'Jekyll and Hyde' is a reinterpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson's original novel 'Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde', a timeless motif for artists, in the form of a one-man play. The story is reconstructed from the perspective of 'Utterson', Jekyll's close friend and lawyer, revealing the secrets and conflicts between 'Jekyll' and 'Hyde' and the resulting events from a new viewpoint.
Director Lee Jun-woo expressed his feelings about taking on the project, saying, "The musical 'Jekyll and Hyde' is so famous that it was quite a burden. On the other hand, it was a work I wanted to challenge. I found it attractive to experience 'Jekyll and Hyde' as a one-man play and to convey the story from Utterson's perspective."
He added, "The actors describe the stage as a 'slaughterhouse', 'execution ground', or 'ring'. It’s a harsh stage where actors have no place to hide, but since the story must be led by the actors, I hope they can evoke the audience's imagination through their strength."
What is different about the play 'Jekyll and Hyde' compared to the musical of the same name? The director stated, "The story progresses based on the original novel. Many people may know the story through the musical or other means, but surprisingly, not many have read the original novel. I found it interesting to depict it from Utterson's perspective based on the original novel. There is a question that reaches the audience at the final destination: Could there be a Hyde within us? The lawyer Utterson wants to protect his friend Jekyll, but he is also drawn to violence, thinking he must find the bad guy. The question I want to pose to the audience is whether there is an aspect of consuming and enjoying violence. We fear and lament over sensational news, events, or brutal crimes, yet we unconsciously seek them out and, in some ways, consume them. I think 'Jekyll and Hyde' points this out. I hope to give the audience such questions as I create this work."
The play 'Jekyll and Hyde' features talented actors Choi Jung-won, Ko Hoon-jung, Baek Seok-kwang, and Kang Gi-dong, who are actively involved in theater, musicals, films, and dramas, presenting a one-man play with four distinct colors. The actors are described as 'performers' who embody various characters appearing in the play. They will lead the play alone for 90 minutes.
Choi Jung-won began by saying, "I participated in this work with the mindset that I need to fight with myself." He continued, "I did my first one-man play in 2004 with 'A Letter to My Daughter'. I remember crying for 30 minutes on my way home after that performance. I never thought there would be such a big difference between a stage with a partner and one without. Since then, I kept thinking that one-man plays were not for me. However, I decided that I must do 'Jekyll and Hyde' for my own challenge. I think I have succeeded in this challenge. Now, the thought of never doing a one-man play again has completely disappeared."
Ko Hoon-jung said, "I felt that if I didn't challenge myself with a one-man play now, I might not have another opportunity. I looked at the script, but I had doubts about whether I could memorize it in such a short time. Since I chose to do it, I thought I would just dive in. I have been living a life of restricting carbohydrates, but I ate rice because I heard that I need to eat carbs to think clearly. There were times when I worked hard with the mindset of grabbing at straws, and I gained a lot from that. I look forward to what more I will gain through future performances. I believe that when I succeed in this challenge, I will gain energy that cannot be found anywhere else."
Baek Seok-kwang shared, "When I received the script, I found it so interesting that I wanted to perform it as soon as possible. During the preparation process, I set a goal. However, when I finally got on stage after all the preparations, I couldn't remember any of my lines. I pondered how to overcome that. I think the process of conveying the story to the audience in one's own words is like climbing a mountain."
Kang Gi-dong remarked, "When I first read the work, I knew 'Jekyll and Hyde', but there was a different sense of bitterness. That part was very intriguing. I had a lot of concerns in the process of expressing it rationally and sensually. I found it very interesting to view 'Jekyll and Hyde' from Utterson's perspective," and he urged anticipation for the work.
The play 'Jekyll and Hyde' will be performed at TOM 2 in Daehak-ro until May 6.
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today Reporter]
