Cha In-pyo and Yeon Jung-hoon make their stage debut as the son of Lee Jong-hyuk, Lee Tak-soo.. 'Dead Poets Society' movie reborn as a play [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

The movie 'Dead Poets Society' has been reborn on a Korean theater stage.

On the afternoon of the 21st, a press conference for the play 'Dead Poets Society' was held at NOL Theater Daehak-ro Woori Card Hall in Dongsung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Director Cho Kwang-hwa, music director Lee Dong-jun, Cha In-pyo who plays John Keating, Oh Man-seok, and Yeon Jung-hoon attended.

The premiere of the play 'Dead Poets Society' is the first official licensed production in Korea based on the eponymous script by Tom Schulman, which won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay after its 1989 release. Set at Welton Academy, a prestigious boarding school in New England, USA in 1959, it tells the story of new English teacher John Keating and boys searching for their identities amidst a reality focused on college entrance exams.

The original film achieved global success with director Peter Weir's profound direction and Robin Williams' acting, highlighting the tragedy of youth who are not respected as independent individuals under authoritarian educational realities and parental ambitions, forming a deep resonance. This work is noted for Keating's famous line to his students, "Carpe diem" (Seize the day), and the students' lines at the final moment where they stand on their desks shouting "O Captain! My Captain!" without yielding to the headmaster's oppression.

In the play, the performances of veteran actors blending with the energy of newcomers stand out. Cha In-pyo, Oh Man-seok, and Yeon Jung-hoon, who portray the teacher John Keating conveying independent thinking to students, lead the core axis while delivering deep emotional acting. Alongside them, new actors Kim Rak-hyun, Lee Jae-hwan, Chan-hee (SF9) as Neil Perry, a boy resisting an oppressive reality, and Kim Tae-gyun, Moon Sung-hyun as Todd Anderson, portray the close bond between teacher and student on a live stage.

Director Cho Kwang-hwa explained regarding criticisms that 'Dead Poets Society' is not detached from the reality of Korea's education system: "Recently, wasn't there a drama like 'True Education'? While 'True Education' touched on the education system, we did not impose restrictions. We aimed to handle universal stories, just as there are bosses and seniors in the military after entering society. I wanted to talk about 'life mentors.'"

There may be views that the spirit of 'Carpe diem' might not fit in some ways. Director Cho said, "'Carpe diem' might seem uncomfortable, but it seems we are also trapped in standardized education. Breathing with the audience at this moment feels like 'Carpe diem' to me. 'Carpe diem' is very precious to me."

When asked how much of the original text they borrowed, he stated, "We only purchased the original text's script. We put effort into grammatical translation," and added, "We have more music than usual plays. We tried to show what cannot be shown through visuals with music."

Music director Lee Dong-jun said regarding parts emphasized in direction: "I approached the scene where they shout 'O My Captain' toward the departing Keating first. Since this scene carries the most important message, I thought the music for that part might be the most important key of this play."

What are the characteristics of Keating portrayed by these three actors? Oh Man-seok said, "No matter how hard we try to act similarly, we end up acting differently. Yeon Jung-hoon is affectionate just by looking at his face. Affection runs deep in him." He continued, "Cha In-pyo treated the children to meals every week saying they worked hard. I think I was somewhere in between. I tried to create a good atmosphere." Oh Man-seok added, "I also tried to emulate the affection of Cha In-pyo and Yeon Jung-hoon."

Cha In-pyo said, "Keating is 35 years old in Seon Saeng-in (Director), but I am 58. I consider people 'colleagues living this life together.' I try to act from a colleague's perspective."

Yeon Jung-hoon said with a smile, "Like my senior Cha In-pyo, this is my first time doing a play. It has been over ten years since I was the youngest at Navy Headquarters," and added, "I am having new and good experiences while syncing with my seniors." He conveyed, "The three of us as Keating are truly very different. So I think we might actually have strengths. Please come see us three times."

What is 'education' that each actor performed and thought about? Cha In-pyo said, "I think education helps people realize how they live." Yeon Jung-hoon said, "The 'Carpe diem' we speak of is not YOLO (You Only Live Once), but rather 'enjoy the present' in any situation. Just as they say in the military, 'If you can't avoid it, enjoy it,' I think it means enjoying any situation without regret later."

Cha In-pyo and Yeon Jung-hoon make their debut stage play through 'Dead Poets Society.' Cha In-pyo said, "I am following the director's and seniors' instructions well," while Yeon Jung-hoon said, "This work will occupy a large part of my acting career. I myself am doing 'Carpe diem.'"

Nam Kyung-eop said, "The character Nolan I played is someone who tried to create the best school." Park Ji-il, who plays the same role, explained, "'Dead Poets Society' is a work containing insights into human society and humans. Nolan forces his values on both his students and his son. In this process, he shows violent and oppressive attitudes. That is why he drives his child to the tragedy of death." He added, "It is a work that makes us think about how much we care for and respect those around us."

Oh Man-seok revealed, "About 30 years ago, I told my parents I wanted to join the theater and film department, but they absolutely opposed it. So I secretly saved up part-time job money to take acting classes at a academy and entered Hanlim Multi Art School. The teacher who taught me then was senior Nam Kyung-eop." He continued, "At that time, Senior Nam Kyung-eop gave me many good questions. Later, I had the honor of sharing the stage with him. Isn't being able to ask good questions a form of good education?"

Recalling that time, Nam Kyung-eop said with a smile, "There was a high school senior who acted really well. When Oh Man-seok took off his makeup and I saw he was dark-skinned, I said 'You look like a Bushman,' and Man-seok replied 'Teacher, you look like a monkey.' This friend expressed his thoughts without hiding them. I thought he would become a good actor, but meeting him again brings mixed emotions and gratitude."

Park Ji-il conveyed, "Cha In-pyo's mother is over 80 years old and sent me a special message saying, 'I saw my son's performance for the first time. My son's representative work will not be 'Love in Your Arms' but now it will become 'Dead Poets Society.'"

The play 'Dead Poets Society' will be performed at NOL Theater Daehak-ro Woori Card Hall from the 18th until September 13.

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*This content was translated by AI.