"Are you Kim Junsu that I knew?"" The spirit of "Beetlejuice" that I enjoyed [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

For Kim Jun-su, "Beatlejuice" was another challenge. Comedy, abusive language, and even boorish jokes. Through this work, he broke his frame and proved another spectrum.

"Beetlejuice," a musical based on Tim Burton's film of the same name (1988), tells the extraordinary story of a newly ghosted couple holding hands with "Beetlejuice," who is trapped between the world and the underworld to evict a strange family member who has moved into their home.

Kim Jun-su took on his first comic role as "Beetlejuice." He said, "Show musicals were the mainstream on Broadway, but not in Korea. "I think 'Kinky Boots' opened the door and 'Aladdin' peaked," he said. "I thought the audience was ready to accept (black comedy) now, and I decided that this timing was enough to challenge."

"Since full-fledged comedy dramas such as 'Beetlejuice' are not common in Korea, I thought it would be a new challenge and an opportunity to learn," he said. "I'm a person who always wants to break the mold, and I felt this work could be another turning point for me."

He said his previous work, "Aladdin," was a new turning point for him. He said, "Actually, while doing 'Aladdin', the audience's laughter was so good. I felt refreshed as an actor. At that time, I remembered "Beetlejuice," a work I had rejected even at the premiere, and I wanted to try it, he said. "I've never done a full-fledged comic play, but I'm proud that I have a single opinion of making someone laugh." I can't be funny here, but I'm a comedian among my younger brothers," he said with a big smile.

Then, how was "Kim Junsu's Beetlejuice" made. He said, "Because I'm an 'outside' character, I didn't think it was necessary to express my age group as it is. The idea was to maintain the basic framework but make my own weapon, and the direction was kind of like "gold," he said. "I thought that if I express the character's taste in a variety of ways by utilizing the cute side and the pitiful side together, I would revive the character's taste, and the director readily accepted the direction."

Kim Joon-soo, who said "Beetlejuice" is different from his previous work, said, "I've played a lot of roles pretending to be cool. I try to be funny in the parts where I can be funny in them, and I actually like to be funny. But full-fledged comedy is another story, so it was a challenge in itself," he said.

"I was worried a lot during the preparation process, and I was worried in my own way. There were some parts that didn't fit me to follow this character as it was, so I needed the process of making my own "Beatlejuice." "There were many awkward and embarrassing parts in the practice process because I'm not used to using ridiculous expressions on purpose to make them laugh, swearing, or making obscene jokes," he said.

He shared his concerns and grievances about the first wild jokes and abusive language he tried on stage. Kim Jun-su said, "I was worried, 'Is this going to be okay?' It may be natural, but it is the first time to make a dirty joke or swear word in public. I was worried about whether the audience and fans could accept this expression, he said. "But after seeing the first performance, I was relieved to see that they liked it. I'm trying to express it bolder and funnier now," he said.

"Since I have a lot of dialogue, I may get lost if I fall into 3,000 points," he said. "But after repeated performances, I reacted to the audience's reaction." I had enough room to change my lines little by little. So I think there is synergy with other actors. All actors accept each other better as they have details or relaxation. "There are times when a scene is made just for that episode by quoting the opponent's ad-lib as it is," he said.

Kim Joon-soo, who was a little hesitant, said, "Actually, I'm not a person who can't swear or hasn't done it before. I'm embarrassed and stabbed when fans sometimes say, "How much did you prepare to swear naturally?"

Kim Jun-su's goal through "Beatlejuice" was also clear. "I've always been a series of challenges since some point," he said. However, I often heard that "Kim Jun-su is smart in choosing something that suits him, not a wide spectrum," he said. "I thought it was because I did a good job, but I don't think such words will come out anymore if I finish 'Beatlejuice' successfully."

"Even I was half-hearted until just before the performance went up," he said. "However, question marks have always followed my first casting articles on 'Des Note' and 'Dracula'. But as a result, I received a lot of love," he said. "My fellow actors also said, 'Why do you keep trying new works. "Isn't it okay to continue the works that are well-received?" but I don't think I can do that because of my personality. I always like to challenge myself," he added.

He said he wanted to present "laughter" to the audience first through this work. Kim Joon-soo said, "As an actor, I want the audience to laugh and go home. Of course, the second act is touching, but at least I want to perform a performance that is worth the price of the ticket. I know that people who come to see the performance come with a big heart. There are quite a few people who say they can only come if they take a half day off. I know that I'm grateful, so I'm trying to make it even more fun," he said.

He said the "Beetlejuice" performance was a momentum. He said, "I think the moment I'm ashamed, it's neither me nor me. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I hope it's enough to think, 'Is it Kim Jun-su that I knew?' and added, "The basic mind is 'What should I do?' I'm confident that even if mistakes occur, I can enjoy them all. Rather, it is regrettable that it ends without any mistakes. I always reflect on that before the performance, and I think it fits the character well," he said.

As for the merits of the performance of "Beatlejuice," Kim Jun-su said, "It is a work where not only the main character but also other characters live together. Actually, do I need this character?' There is also a work I want to do, but the charm of "Beatlejuice" is that it does not have such a character, he said. "The balance between Act 1 and Act 2 is also good. I didn't know it was this well-made work," he said.

"I hope you come to see it to laugh and feel the family's strong love, and the work deals paradoxically with death, but in the end, it contains a message to cherish life more when you are alive. I think it's very good because it contains multiple messages," he added.

Finally, Kim Jun-su said, "It's hard to tell you exactly, but a rough plan is being discussed by 2028. The issue of renting is the most important," he said. Kim Joon-soo, who will be on stage again as the musical "Des Note" L from March, said, "Repeating does not reduce the burden. I have expectations, and I don't think I should do the same as the previous performance. Rather, there is a burden that it can be satisfied only when it is upgraded," he said.

Meanwhile, the musical "Beetlejuice" will be performed at LG Art Center Seoul LG Signature Hall until March 22.

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*This content was translated by AI.