K-Content News
Pansori performance 'Sugung-ga' ('Gwitto' in Korean) offers wisdom amid pandemic
- May 18, 2021
Pansori performance 'Sugung-ga' ('Gwitto' in Korean)
offers wisdom amid pandemic
Updated : 2021-05-17 14:58
By Park Ji-won
Since last year, "Sugungga," one of the five existing repertoires of "pansori," or the Korean genre of musical storytelling, became popular among a wider audience after being partially adopted by an alternative pop band called Leenalchi. The band rose to stardom after successfully leading the country's tourism campaign, "Feel the Rhythm of Korea," with its addictive music and electronic beats. One of its YouTube videos had received 46.6 million views as of Sunday.
"Sugung-ga" (working title), or "Gwitto" in Korean, the changgeuk of the National Changgeuk Company of Korea (NCCK), directed and written by Koh Sung-woong, with the pansori and music composed by Yoo Soo-jung (artistic director) and Han Seung-seok, recreates the traditional story by adding some philosophical twists and a new female character, resulting in resembling our current society hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
The original story is a satirical tale set in an underwater kingdom, centering on the conflict between prey and predator, or ruler and the people, through animal characters such as a turtle and a rabbit. The turtle is ordered by its master, the king of the underwater kingdom, to fetch a rabbit's liver as a cure for the monarch who is dying from an illness. The turtle tries to goad the rabbit into the sea. But the rabbit manages to escape by telling a lie and returns to land.
"Sugung-ga" focuses on the eight tribulations endured by the rabbit, named "Toja," who chose to go to the underwater kingdom to escape from reality, only to realize the value of the present and where he belongs.
"Due to the pandemic, we have been forced to get nervous and angry, as well as to think about how to survive. Through 'Sugung-ga,' I wanted to give audience members time to think about the meaning of the present and the place where they belong, while watching the struggles and realizations of the rabbit during this humorous piece," said Koh during an online press conference held on Thursday.
"Koh told us to face the wind and learn how to enjoy this wind, as well as dance in the middle of it. I try to express that through Toja, who grew stronger through such struggles," NCCK member Kim Jun-soo, who plays the rabbit, said during the conference.
Koh stressed that he added a new character called Tonyeo, meaning the "rabbit's girlfriend," to create more dramatic sounds as well as a natural stage.
"I wrote the script while taking stage production into consideration. When you see two characters on stage ― for example, a rabbit riding a turtle ― the stage may look too simple. But if you see three characters on stage, they fill the stage beautifully. I also thought about the creative combination of what it would be like when the female character was added, to be able to sing with the other (male) singers. Also, I thought (that having a female character) would be more natural in the current piece. If you only show the original storyline, the audience focuses on listening to the singing or music. So I twisted the piece slightly and added the new character. It changes the flow and tension of the play."
The music and lyrics are based on traditional pansori music, although some rhythms are different from the original performance, depending on the scenes, in order to make the performance more dynamic, artistic director Yoo said.
NCCK member Min Eun-kyung plays Tonyeo, while Kim and Yu Tae-pyung-yang play the roles of Toja and Jara, or turtle, respectively.
This performance will be the first stage performance since the Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea reopened to the public. The biggest stage of the art company has been closed since April 2018 due to renovation.
"Sugung-ga" runs from June 2 to 6 at the National Theater of Korea.
Since last year, "Sugungga," one of the five existing repertoires of "pansori," or the Korean genre of musical storytelling, became popular among a wider audience after being partially adopted by an alternative pop band called Leenalchi. The band rose to stardom after successfully leading the country's tourism campaign, "Feel the Rhythm of Korea," with its addictive music and electronic beats. One of its YouTube videos had received 46.6 million views as of Sunday.
"Sugung-ga" (working title), or "Gwitto" in Korean, the changgeuk of the National Changgeuk Company of Korea (NCCK), directed and written by Koh Sung-woong, with the pansori and music composed by Yoo Soo-jung (artistic director) and Han Seung-seok, recreates the traditional story by adding some philosophical twists and a new female character, resulting in resembling our current society hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
The original story is a satirical tale set in an underwater kingdom, centering on the conflict between prey and predator, or ruler and the people, through animal characters such as a turtle and a rabbit. The turtle is ordered by its master, the king of the underwater kingdom, to fetch a rabbit's liver as a cure for the monarch who is dying from an illness. The turtle tries to goad the rabbit into the sea. But the rabbit manages to escape by telling a lie and returns to land.
"Sugung-ga" focuses on the eight tribulations endured by the rabbit, named "Toja," who chose to go to the underwater kingdom to escape from reality, only to realize the value of the present and where he belongs.
"Due to the pandemic, we have been forced to get nervous and angry, as well as to think about how to survive. Through 'Sugung-ga,' I wanted to give audience members time to think about the meaning of the present and the place where they belong, while watching the struggles and realizations of the rabbit during this humorous piece," said Koh during an online press conference held on Thursday.
"Koh told us to face the wind and learn how to enjoy this wind, as well as dance in the middle of it. I try to express that through Toja, who grew stronger through such struggles," NCCK member Kim Jun-soo, who plays the rabbit, said during the conference.
Koh stressed that he added a new character called Tonyeo, meaning the "rabbit's girlfriend," to create more dramatic sounds as well as a natural stage.
"I wrote the script while taking stage production into consideration. When you see two characters on stage ― for example, a rabbit riding a turtle ― the stage may look too simple. But if you see three characters on stage, they fill the stage beautifully. I also thought about the creative combination of what it would be like when the female character was added, to be able to sing with the other (male) singers. Also, I thought (that having a female character) would be more natural in the current piece. If you only show the original storyline, the audience focuses on listening to the singing or music. So I twisted the piece slightly and added the new character. It changes the flow and tension of the play."
The music and lyrics are based on traditional pansori music, although some rhythms are different from the original performance, depending on the scenes, in order to make the performance more dynamic, artistic director Yoo said.
NCCK member Min Eun-kyung plays Tonyeo, while Kim and Yu Tae-pyung-yang play the roles of Toja and Jara, or turtle, respectively.
This performance will be the first stage performance since the Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea reopened to the public. The biggest stage of the art company has been closed since April 2018 due to renovation.
"Sugung-ga" runs from June 2 to 6 at the National Theater of Korea.
Reporter : jwpark@koreatimes.co.kr
