Cha In-pyo: "Thinking of the wrong partner I chose a month before the college entrance exam"... Aching heart while performing 'Dead Poets Society' [Star Scene] [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Cha In-pyo shared his own thoughts regarding "Dead Poets Society."

On the afternoon of the 11th, Cha In-pyo held a press conference for the play "Dead Poets Society" (hereinafter "Dead Poets") at NOL Theater, Daehak-ro, Dongsung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The premiere of the play "Dead Poets Society" is the first official licensed production in Korea based on the screenplay of the same name by Tom Schulman, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay after its 1989 release. Set in 1959 at Welton Academy, a prestigious boarding school in New England, USA, it tells the story of young boys searching for their identities amidst an exam-oriented reality, alongside John Keating, an English teacher newly appointed to the school.

The original film achieved global success through 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, thereby forming a deep resonance with audiences. This work is renowned for Keating's famous line to his students, "Carpe diem" (Seize the day), and the students' final lines where they stand on their desks, defying the headmaster's oppression, shouting "O Captain! My Captain!"

In the play, the outstanding performances blend the depth of veteran actors with the energy of newcomers. Cha In-pyo, Oh Man-seok, and Yeon Jeong-hoon, who portray the teacher John Keating conveying independent thinking to students, lead the core axis while delivering profound emotional acting. Alongside them, new actors Kim Rak-hyun, Lee Jae-hwan, Chan-hee (SF9), Kim Tae-gyun, and Moon Sung-hyun, playing Neil Perry, a boy resisting an oppressive reality, and Todd Anderson respectively, depict a close master-disciple bond on the live stage.

When asked about his reason for returning to acting after a long break through "Dead Poets Society," Cha In-pyo said, "I received many offers to appear in plays before but had turned them down. I wanted to do theater, but the preparation period was long, and I felt that way because I had been stuck in a rigid acting lifestyle."

He continued, "As I've gotten older and started writing novels and engaging in other fields, I realized people shouldn't settle in just one area. As you age, you might feel shy about challenging new things, but while writing novels, I felt the joy gained from it is immense," adding, "My wife and those around me also suggested, 'How about trying theater this time?'"

Cha In-pyo shared, "'Dead Poets Society' was a film I watched when I was 21. Looking back now, I realized Keating's questions were right. I thought performing this role at my age could bring authenticity."

Cha In-pyo said, "I have received much love as a celebrity despite what I possess and lived well all my life. As someone who has been so fortunate to receive such benefits, I am participating in the theater stage late. I saw countless young people burning their youth, challenging theater, and sweating. As someone who has benefited from popular culture, I wondered what I could do." He added, "I have published five novels, and I also thought it would be nice if one of them became a work based on my original story."

When asked about the behind-the-scenes details of the preparation process, he said, "Many actors, including Yeon Jeong-hoon and Oh Man-seok, were already cast early this year, and I received a casting offer in April. After receiving the offer, I saw that we had to practice for two months starting from mid-May. We had to practice all day from Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays on weekends. I hesitated but decided to do it. The young friends arrived much earlier than me to warm up and practice. Watching them, I thought, 'I shouldn't dampen their passion. I must work hard,' and practiced without missing almost any session, feeling stimulated."

Regarding his wife, actress Shin Ae-ra's reaction to seeing "Dead Poets Society," Cha In-pyo said, "My wife actively encouraged me to do theater. Before the first performance, she told me, 'I'm more nervous than you.' After watching it, she said, 'See? You did well to go ahead.'" He also laughed and added, "Sometimes my wife leaves acquaintances at the theater and goes home alone. She even said she would bring Choi Ji-woo and Yoo Ho-jeong today. She also gave wonderful lunches as gifts to actors and staff."

Cha In-pyo shared, "My children have all grown up, but they watched it multiple times. My youngest daughter is 19 years old; after seeing Chan-hee in the cast of student actors, she wanted to see him, so she booked tickets three times."

What does Cha In-pyo think an "adult" is? He said, "While practicing for this performance, I wondered, 'What kind of adult am I?' I'm also auditioning for my next work and keep getting rejected," he laughed. "I think an adult is someone who doesn't monopolize things but shares a lot. While performing this play, I practiced with young people and felt sorry that it seemed like only I was receiving the spotlight."

When asked, "What kind of person makes a good leader?" Cha In-pyo said, "I think it's someone who is good to be around. It seems like someone you feel would make your life valuable when you are with them."

When asked what kind of practice was emphasized during the two-month rehearsal period, Cha In-pyo said, "The director didn't criticize me or Oh Man-seok and Yeon Jeong-hoon, who are adult actors, much. I felt he thought, 'Shouldn't you be responsible for your own acting?' He just asked us to make sure the audience in the very back row could hear. Regarding vocal power and breathing, I sought advice from my juniors and those around me."

He explained, "In theater, you practice the same lines hundreds of times. All teams must become one like a soccer team and coordinate properly. Team play is important. Even if I can't do something, others help. If there's an instant gap, another actor fills it in."

Cha In-pyo said, "The environment where 20-somethings live today seems to be created by people of my age group, the 50s. When I was in my 20s, working hard seemed to offer more hope than now, but it seems like today's 20-somethings face even greater difficulties. So, I feel a sense of responsibility and also guilt. Separately from that, as a human being, I believe I can offer advice. 'Carpe diem' is not advice but a 'declaration' that we can choose today. I want to make them realize that building good habits can lead in a positive direction."

Cha In-pyo laughed, "Am I not an older Keating than the original?" He said, "I was able to act with sincerity that 'humans have many frameworks, so look at other options.'"

Some evaluations suggest that "Dead Poets Society" is "romantic" compared to the current educational situation. Regarding this criticism, Cha In-pyo explained, "I also wondered if we were just emotionally selling a story detached from reality. As you can see when you read the text and watch the play, we are not saying we must break all current frameworks. We want people to know that each person is born into different frameworks and has various options."

He continued, "I don't know how much today's teenagers will resonate with our play. However, through an organization supporting independent youth this time, I hosted 200 adolescents and young adults. Some students in the orphanage were moved to tears upon watching it. Anyway, I felt this play touched their hearts. But I cannot say this play creates a major discourse or presents something in terms of educational aspects."

Choi Soo-jong and Lee Seo-jin, who are "media actors" known for mostly doing dramas, are also challenging theater recently like Cha In-pyo. Regarding this trend, Cha In-pyo said, "The number of works has decreased significantly, so perhaps that's why they are acting this way; there could be various reasons." He added, "I asked Oh Man-seok, 'When other actors come to the theater world, what is the perception in the theater community?' Oh Man-seok replied positively and said he hopes Daehak-ro becomes bustling again."

Regarding his impressions of Oh Man-seok and Yeon Jeong-hoon who took on the same role as him, Cha In-pyo praised them: "Actor Oh Man-seok acted smoothly and in detail like a veteran, bringing out emotions well. Actor Yeon Jeong-hoon showed his unique tenderness even in his acting. He is usually gentle and not very talkative, but seeing him play Keating on stage was wonderful."

Cha In-pyo said, "I am regretting this time that 'I should have done theater to become an actor.' I hope popular actors who continue their acting careers listen to my advice and do theater. Theater cannot be performed without practicing lines hundreds or thousands of times. If there is a good work in the future, I plan to consider it again. I am also thinking about what jobs I can do in theater. I also want to try holding seminars for young actors."

When many reporters gathered for the event that day, he showed surprise, saying, "This is the first time since I was discharged from the military that so many reporters have come; it's been almost 30 years."

When asked if he had a similar experience to "Dead Poets Society," Cha In-pyo said, "Before my partner made a choice she shouldn't have made about two months before the college entrance exam. I remember her asking me, 'How much studying do you need to get into Seoul National University?' Even though I couldn't study well myself. My homeroom teacher and friends were very heartbroken. While acting this time, it overlapped with Neil Perry. I wanted to tell that friend that 'you can live well even without taking the college entrance exam.'"

Cha In-pyo had previously mentioned wanting to leave behind the drama "Love in Your Arms" as his representative work. He said, "My mother told me, 'Inpyo, congratulations on changing your representative work to Dead Poets Society.' With that evaluation, I think my dream has come true."

The play "Dead Poets Society" will be performed at NOL Theater Daehak-ro Our Card Hall from July 18 until September 13.

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*This content was translated by AI.