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| A scene from the musical, "Frida" / Newsis |
By Dong Sun-hwa
"Frida," which was voted the most-anticipated musical to premiere in 2022, has lived up to people's expectations, showing how a female-centric theatrical show can still bring diversity while imparting a universal message of hope.
"Frida" is an original production by EMK Musical Company that revolves around Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), the first 20th-century Mexican painter to be included in the Louvre Museum's collection. Directed by Choo Jung-hwa and composed by Huh Soo-hyun, "Frida" features only four actresses in each performance, with three of them ― except for the one who plays Kahlo ― juggling multiple roles. For instance, Lisa, who plays Kahlo's husband and Mexican muralist Diego Rivera (1886-1957), also assumes the role of Reflejar, the host of "The Last Night Show" in which Kahlo reminisces about her bygone days.
Since its premiere on March 1, "Frida" has been presented in a small theater at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, without seeking to steal people's attention with a spectacular stage setting or props. Its most powerful weapon is the cast members, and among all of them, Choi Jung-won, who alternates the role of Kahlo with Sophie Kim, delivers a jaw-dropping performance with her incredible stage presence.
One of the highlights of the show is when Kahlo sings "Corset" in Act 1. As she belts out the song with a powerful voice, Kahlo, who looks mostly fragile and disoriented in the beginning of "Frida," finally stands up as a determined and strong-willed painter who is willing to persevere against all odds. To visualize this, she takes off her long white dress and puts on black armor, like a warrior, telling the audience that she is ready to tackle different challenges including the physical pain inflicted upon her by polio and a bus accident.
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| A scene from the musical, "Frida" / Newsis |
Kahlo does face more hardships in Act 2, with her husband having affairs with many women including Kahlo's younger sister. She even loses her baby while pregnant and gets divorced, but in the end, she still shouts out, "Viva La Vida" ― a Spanish phrase meaning "Hooray for Life." Although her life was full of vicissitudes, she still tries to see its beauty, inspiring the audience to do the same.
Actress Lisa also grabbed people's attention with her roles, demonstrating her versatility. When she plays Rivera, she adds a sense of humor to her character while commanding the stage with her low voice that sounds different from the one she uses for her another character, Reflejar. Cheong Yeong-ah and Heo Hye-jin, who take the role of Destino and Memoria, respectively, also create a great harmony with Choi and Lisa. Both Destino and Memoria are Kahlo's alter egos.
"Frida" might have been more captivating if it had explored more in-depth stories about Kahlo's artistic works and inspirations on top of her personal anecdotes. But it still attempts to offer a glimpse into her artistic universe by introducing some of her most well-known paintings, such as "The Two Fridas" (1939) and "Viva la Vida" (1954). "Frida," which can be characterized by its creative format, also shows that a women-centric musical with a small cast can be as mesmerizing as other shows that involve numerous performers.
"Frida" will run until May 29 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
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