KOREAN NET

By Lee Kyoung Mi

Photos & video = Lee Kyoung Mi

"Welcome, everyone who came today."

This is what is said at the beginning of a playful song for opening madang nori, a type of traditional theater comprising folk entertainment like puppets, mask dance and traditional percussion. In a scene from "Chunhyangjeon" (The Tale of Chunhyang), Chunhyang and her lover Mongryong exchange loving glances between young men wrestling on Dano Day and women jumping on a seesaw.

The audience bursts into laughter when Wolmae, Chunhyang's mother, falls while trying to separate the couple. Sim Bongsa (the Blind) appears on stage while holding his baby daughter Sim Chung. When the audience takes pity on him, 15 of Heungbo's siblings come to the stage and shout, "Give me food," causing viewers to erupt in laughter and applause.

This traditional narrative features unexpected turns in every moment. Time passes and Chunhyang waits for her sweetheart who left for Hanyang (Seoul). Sim Chung throws herself into the body of water Indangsum with a wish to restore her father's sight. Meanwhile, Heungbo's family treats a swallow's broken leg and eventually receives a big reward for their deed.

The performance is never boring thanks to energetic dances, songs and exciting music. The audience is glued to the stage since they cannot predict who appears, what happens or how the show progresses.

A truly exciting show was held on the evening of Nov. 28 at Haneul Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Seoul's Jung-gu District. The premiere of "Assorted Madangnori," a show for the entire family especially for the year-end holiday season, was full of the excitement and humor unique to the theatrical play form madang nori.

Madang nori reinterprets traditional classics with modern satire and humor, also using elements unique to Korea like its traditional songs and dances. "Assorted Madangnori" features the best known scenes from three popular plays performed at the National Theater: "Sim Chung is Coming," "Chunhyang Is Coming" and "Nolbo Is Coming."

The live theater genre madangnori features the interaction of the audience and cast. Shown is the character Sim Bongsa (the Blind) on Nov. 28 looking for breastmilk to feed his infant daughter at the premiere of "Assorted Madangnori" at Haneul Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Seoul's Jung-gu District.

The appeal of this show is how characters from each of the classics propel the performance by freely interacting with one other. Sim Bongsa (the Blind) suddenly steps in between lovers Chunhyang and Mongryong, and a grumpy Nolbo, Heungbo's greedy brother, appears when Sim loses his daughter for 300 bags of rice.

Such iconic moments from the classics naturally flow as if all connected, creating a refreshingly new take on traditional performing arts.

The round-shaped stage surrounded by audience seats allows enjoyment of the show from all angles. The stage and seats are close enough to allow the audience to touch the cast's hands, so actors can directly ask viewers questions and even hug them.

The audience also interacts with the performers by expressing their appreciation by shouting "Eolssu" (Woo-hoo) and "Jota (Good)" and dancing with their shoulders.

Background music flowing on stage, accompanying songs and perfectly appropriate sound effects all contributed to a livelier show. About 300 types of colorful costumes and props were also must-sees.

Madang nori is a former of traditional theater that uses modern elements. Shown on the left is a pojol (traditional guard) on Nov. 28 shooting a video with a camera of "Chunhyangjeon" villain Byun Hak-do holding a microphone at the premiere of "Assorted Madangnori" at Haneul Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Seoul.

While dealing with issues of its time, madang nori adds modern features to traditional classic plays.

In a scene from "Chunghyangjeon" when Sim appears begging for breastmilk to feed his baby daughter, actors say things from today's Korea like "Sorry, I'm DINK" (double income, no kids) or "It's so hard to get breastmilk here amid Korea's low birth rate era." When Sim promises a monk to donate 300 bags of rice, the latter uses a tablet PC to record it and get Sim's signature.

The scene in which "Chunhyangjeon" villain Byeon Hak-do checks gisaeng, or female entertainers in the Joseon Dynasty, is presented as a reality competition program. When each maiden appears for the inspection, the hit "APT." by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars is played to raise the mood.

After the performance, audience members came up to the stage to dance along, thanking the cast for a great time.

Through Jan. 30, "Assorted Madangnori" is performed twice daily at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (excluding Mondays and Fridays) at Haneul Theater of the National Theater of Korea.

km137426@korea.kr