“Yeomjaeng-i Yussi” is an example of one of them. This play started from a small a provincial stage, but now it is famous in Daehakro. It won an award for the most popularity at the 2006 Seoul Theater Festival. What is the attraction of Yeomjaeng-i Yussi? If you can get a glimpse of the play, you will see the reasons very briefly and not very well. If you take a little notice of the play, you can sense that it is quite surprising. First, this play’s subject matter is “life and death”. It appears that this sort of theme is not so simple to understand for everyone. Second, there is only one actor in this monodrama. In other words, he plays all of the roles alone. How about the stage that you have imagined? There are no splendid props, or fabulous actors. However, it has developed into a play that could become unique. It is great of them to transform difficult materials and conditions into their strong points.
“Yeomjaeng-i” means undertaker, one who deals with the bodies of people who have died and to arrange funerals. The hero of the play, “Yussi” is an old yeomjaeng-i. His family has been yeomjaeng-i from father to son, so he also has followed in his father’s track. The play begins as Yussi is about to dress a deceased. It is a special day, since this is the last work of his life. The play shows the whole course of “yeom”, which is the Korean traditional dressing of the deceased. He tells several anecdotes from his days as a yeomjaeng-i. He describes such things as meeting a gangster ghost, an ill feeling towards a greedy funeral agency, strife among a family caused by the dividing of their father’s property, and the story about his son.
“Yeomjaeng-i Yussi” is not a typical performance. The play takes some elements of a traditional Korean folk drama, which asks the audience to take certain parts of the play. This is done throughout the play. From opening of the play, Yussi makes one viewer seated in the front row act as a “reporter” with a camera flash. The drama goes on through a conversation with the reporter that has come to collect data about yeom. In succession, Yussi has his audience join him on the stage. Singing together under his conducting, they get to be happy and sad, finally feeling a sense of belonging. The theater has about sixty full seats, and the atmosphere is warm and harmonious. The play is not only a monodrama anymore, but has become everyone’s stage.
The theater performing “Yeomjaeng-i Yussi” is always filled with loud laughter. The play sends the audience into laughter. As most people like humor, this is one of the sources making the play so popular. He is originally well known for his good jokes. On that account, the writer Kim, In-kyung considered such things while she was writing the scenes. That is to say, the actor of this drama was decided beforehand. Therefore, it could be written to fit to him perfectly. His wit is the most important factor in this drama. He makes fun even from a heavy thing, the audiences feel free and comfortable bit by bit.
However, it is not just a comedy. The play creates a deep impression, which makes the audience think about their lives. They lower their feeling of stress about their lives and death, and then keep their composure. Watching how badly people behave in relation to other’s death, and the death of Yussi’s son, the audience gains some insight to look around their lives. It is the moment that death alters into life.
Yussi sublimates death in life through humor, and harmony with the audiences. It seems to talk about death, but in fact, it concerns life. The play gives you a question, “How do you have a good life?” It does not give the answer. The key of your life is in your hand. You do not have to worry about the end. Yussi says, “Don’t be afraid of dying, life is more scary and hard.”
He is an experienced actor that has worked for over twenty years. He is very diligent to come to the theater from Chungju everyday. Maybe “Yeomjaeng-i Yussi” would not be here, if not for his efforts.
I am a provincial actor.
The reason why I have not moved to Seoul is that it is not so significant to do so. Seoul is not Korea. I think the province culture of Korea should be revive rather than continue with the thoughtless swelling that is Seoul.
It is the turn of my acting years.
Three years ago, I decided to do a monodrama, because I wanted to arrange and plan my life as an actor. I talked with the writer Kim, In-kyung, and she proposes the material that “Yeom” is based on. As it was proper for me to express my acting style, we began to collaborate and create “Yeomjaeng-i Yussi”.
The result is really good. When I launched the play in Daehakro, I wished to avoid red letters. However, beyond our expectations, many people came to the play. At first, the newspapers never reported the play, so it became the talk among patrons.
Monodrama is hard work.
Of course, it is good that people come to my play, but I am not satisfied, so it is a little tough. Because I think that, it is important to please myself as well as please the audiences. Although I always try to do my best, it is not easy to content myself. When I am not very good, I think that I started it in a rash moment. Perhaps “Yeomjaeng-i Yussi” will be the first, and the last monodrama.
To the young people, get more experiences.
The young seem to be too standardized. They need to have their culture. The “King and the Clown” has recorded ten million sales. I do not know if it helps the movie industry, but I think it can be dangerous. Korean people accept the latest hot items without any reservation. For now, people are following only the big musical. So traditional dramas can go nowhere. Theatrical circles are also producing just musicals. I hope that students, young people have a marked individuality. Studying is essential, but experiencing many things is significant too. Have your own point of view.
