The State Republican Academic Korean Theater of Musical Comedy said goodbye to the old stage with the musical “The Tale of Chun Hyang. The Remake”. The event was held within the framework of the “Rukhani Zhangyru” Program.
This legend has become an unsurpassed classic of the theater. It was this very play that was shown 86 years ago, when the Korean theater had just opened. However, this time the production team presented the story of Chun Hyang in a completely new way – in the form of a musical. Each character was represented by several artists: the ballet group conveyed the narration in the language of dance, the vocalists – in the beauty of words. All the action was accompanied by a live sound, which was provided by seven musicians who impeccably set the emotional mood of the moment. Gorgeous costumes and a large number of non-standard stage techniques left even more positive impressions from the musical. The performance told the audience a story about the power of love and fidelity of the beautiful Chun Hyang and Mon Nen, the son of the governor of the province, who are in love with each other, as well as Ben Hak To, an outcast in love, who goes to extreme lengths to subdue his love.
As the organizers noted, almost all tickets were sold, which was confirmed by the full hall of spectators. And the actors couldn’t even hold all the flowers given to them after the play ended.
This farewell performance ended the 86th theatrical season of the Korean Theater. The opening of the next season will take place in a new building in the city center on Bogenbai Batyr Street. On May 23, a ceremony was held to hand over this building to the Korean Theater. It previously housed a folk orchestra named after Kurmangazy. This building has a historical value and is protected by the state as an architectural monument.
All the creative forces of the theater participated in the preparation of the musical. Before the start of the performance, two employees – the main director Elena Kim and the leading artist of the Korean theater Alisher Makhripov – were awarded letters of thanks from the Minister of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan Arystanbek Mukhamediuly for their contribution to art.
Anna MAYER, Almaty
