'Simcheong-ga': no tricks, but eye-opening

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Thu, December 7, 2023 | 23:21

Korean Traditions

'Simcheong-ga': no tricks, but eye-opening

Posted : 2018-05-02 17:59

Updated : 2018-05-02 18:37

A scene from changgeuk "Simcheong-ga," in which Sim Cheong reunites with her blind father / Courtesy of National Theater of Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The tale of Sim Cheong, which revolves around a girl who sacrifices herself to regain her father's eyesight, is a popular folktale. This well-known story also exists in the form of pansori (Korean traditional narrative singing) and traditionally a pansori singer would have to spend four to five hours telling the whole story.

The National Changgeuk Company of Korea (NCCK) stages "Simcheong-ga" in the form of changgeuk, a genre derived from pansori and performed by multiple actors portraying each character in the story.

The national troupe's artistic director Kim Sung-nyo has had her term extended until the new CEO of the National Theater of Korea as well as her successor are named.

During her term, the veteran performer-turned-artistic director carried out many theatrical experiments. Stepping out from traditional subjects, the theater took Greek tragedies such as "Medea" and "The Trojan Women" in the form of changgeuk and reinterpreted modern plays such as "The Wildfire."

Kim also invited internationally renowned directors to rework the five remaining pansori pieces -- Achim Freyer for "Sugung-ga," Andrei Serban for "Different Chunhyang," Lee So-young for "Jeokbyeok-ga" and Koh Sun-woong for "Mr. Heungbo."

"Simcheong-ga," helmed by director Son Jin-chaek of the Michoo Theater Company, is the last in the pansori modernization project.

Instead of playing tricks to look fancy, Son grabbed the bull by the horns. He neither added modern twist to the plot nor used state-of-the-art technology in directing. However, he made the audience to concentrate on pansori against the backdrop of a simple set and minimum props of white folding fans and lotus flowers.

"It is closer to a pansori you listen to, rather than a play you watch," Son said. "The history of changgeuk is about 100 years and it is a genre still evolving. There have been many attempts to perform pansori in Western realism style at proscenium theaters, but I wanted audiences to listen to the pansori first."

Min Eun-kyung plays young Sim Cheong and Lee So-yeon plays the older Queen Sim Cheong. Min portrays the filial piety of a young girl raised by her father and her desperation, while Lee is in charge of the most famous scene in which Sim Cheong reunites with her father and he recovers his sight.

The "eye-opening" scene is directed in a rather humorous way. As he opens his eyes, instead of bursting into an emotional reunion with his daughter who sacrificed for his eyesight, he is puzzled and cannot recognize her because he has never seen her face until he remembers seeing his daughter in dreams.

Yoo Taepyeongyang, 26, the youngest member of the troupe, was chosen to play Sim Hak-gyu, the blind father of Cheong. Yoo goes from a devoted father who is devastated to send his daughter as a sacrifice to a witty man who travels to the palace to attend a banquet for the blind.

Master pansori singer Ahn Sook-sun who composed the pansori for this version of "Simcheong-ga" alternates the role of "dochang" (narrator in changgeuk) with NCCK principal Yoo Soo-jung. Ahn skillfully progresses the plot and sometimes mingles with other characters such as villagers. Her strong yet pathetically touching voice embraces the tale while keeping the subtleties of the original pansori.

Ahn's rhythmic storytelling shines in "Beompijungryu," a famous excerpt from "Simcheong-ga" which literally means being afloat in the middle of the sea. It is a scene describing Sim Cheong on a ship of merchant sailors on her way to plunge into the sea of Indangsu as a human sacrifice. The original pansori is an art of a single performer, but some part such as "Beompijungryu" can acquire more power when accompanied with a chorus. The rough sea is portrayed through the movements of white fans.

Famed hanbok (Korean traditional costume) designer Kim Young-jin of Tchai Kim created the costumes for "Simcheong-ga." Young Sim Cheong wears bright yellow "jeogori" (upper garment) and a blue skirt with pink blossoms, which connects to Queen Sim Cheong's pink skirt and pink full-blown flowers on white jeogori.

Other characters' costumes are also understated yet luxurious. Some might expect rags for the blind Sim Hak-gyu, but instead he wears a posh "durumagi" (overcoat). Director Son said this suits his direction as it is the best singers presenting the best performance, dressed up.

The changgeuk "Simcheong-ga" runs until May 6 at Myeongdong Theater. Tickets cost 20,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ntok.go.kr or call 02-2280-4114.

meeyoo@ktimes.com