'Daddy-Long-Legs' reborn with music

A scene from the musical “Daddy Long Legs” / Courtesy of Dal Company

By Kwon Mee-yoo

"Daddy-Long-Legs," a 1912 novel by Jean Webster, is one of the most popular children's books in Korea. People might remember the witty letters written by an orphan girl to her benefactor.

The epistolary novel has been adapted for stage, with melodious music adding atmosphere to the budding romance of an orphan girl and her benefactor.

The Korean production is a remake of the recent off-Broadway production, written and directed by John Caird with music and lyrics by Paul Gordon. Nell Balaban, associate director of the off-Broadway production, helmed the Korean production with resident director Park So-young.

The original novel is solely composed of the letters of Jerusha, or Judy, and everything is described from her perspective. On stage, it has become a two-hander and though Jerusha still keeps the plot flow, Jervis appears as another axis of the musical, balancing the development of their relationship.

"Daddy-Long-Legs" might seem like a typical Cinderella story at a glance as an orphan girl falls in love with a rich philanthropist. However, Jerusha is poles apart from being a princess. She is a socially disadvantaged young woman from an orphanage in the early 20th century, when women did not have political rights. She bravely and briskly navigates her life and grows up in the process.

The stage is divided into two parts ― the front with numerous trunks used as various props for Jerusha and the back describing Jervis' luxurious study where he reads Jerusha's letters. Audiences can use their imagination to change the scenery from a gruesome orphanage to Jerusha's dorm room and a farmhouse to Manhattan as Jerusha travels around. It could be similar to how Jervis thought of and became interested in Jerusha through her funny and clever letters.

In the Korean production, Lee Ji-sook and Yu Ri-a alternate the role of Jerusha Abbott, while three actors Shin Sung-rok, Kang Dong-ho and Song Won-geun play Jervis Pendleton.

Lee and Yu portray how Jerusha grows up in correspondences with Jervis, describing her life in lively letters. All three actors Shin, Kang and Song are tall enough to immediately relate to the image of Daddy-Long-Legs intended by the director.

For the Korean production, the band is scaled down to three ― a keyboard, a cello and a guitar. Though small, the trio delivers Gordon's elegantly melodic music successfully.

"Daddy-Long-Legs" runs until Oct. 3 at Daemyung Culture Factory Vivaldi Park Hall in Daehangno, northeastern Seoul. Tickets cost from 44,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, visit dalcompany.co.kr or call 02-744-4033.