This spring's most evocative musicals

Korea Herald

05-04-2025

'Red Cliff,' 'Once' and 'L'art reste': An epic to feel, a song to sing and a life to tell
"Red Cliff" - An epic to feel
'Red Cliff' is a vivid combination of pansori, dance and theatrical storytelling. While technically categorized as a musical, it defies conventional boundaries -- too layered, too textured, too rooted in tradition to be simply labeled.
Now in its sixth run since its premier in 2017, 'Red Cliff' unfolds the legendary tale of the Battle of Red Cliffs, a pivotal naval conflict during the late Eastern Han dynasty in 3rd-century China.
Though the story is rooted in Chinese history and famously dramatized in 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' the production interprets it through a distinctively Korean lens. The costume and stage design balance historical imagination with modern minimalism, resulting in a stylized visual language that feels fresh yet anchored in Korean heritage.
The music draws heavily from gugak, Korea's traditional music.
On stage, the ensemble and lead characters -- all adorned with dramatic eyeliner and synchronized movements -- blur the line between singer and dancer. Their seamless performance makes it nearly impossible to distinguish vocalists from choreographed performers.
Folding fans, ever-present props in Korean traditional arts, couldn't be used more creatively.
The Korean dialogue and songs use old-style language, so for bilingual viewers, the English subtitles actually feel easier to understand.
"Red Cliff" runs at the National Jeongdong Theater through April 13.
"Once" - A story to sing
There was a time when 'Falling Slowly,' the Oscar-winning song from the 2007 Irish film 'Once,' found a special place in the hearts of South Korean listeners. More than a decade later, the stage adaptation has returned to Korea after several years -- reminding audiences why its quiet charm still resonates.
This stage adaptation succeeds in two particularly challenging feats: reimagining a popular film for the theater and skillfully translating famous songs across languages.
In addition, the production features performers who can not only act and sing, but also play musical instruments -- one of the reasons the musical is returning for another stint 10 years after its Korean premiere in 2014.
A pre-show begins 30 minutes before the main performance, during which audience members can step onto the stage and purchase drinks from the on-stage bar. Starting about 10 minutes before the show, the cast joins in with impromptu music and singing, creating a lively, shared experience.
Although the show is in Korean with no subtitles, those familiar with the story and music of "Once" might want to experience how differently it resonates in another language.
"Once" runs at COEX Artium until May 31.
"L'art Reste" - A life to tell
The title "L'art Reste" comes from the French phrase 'Les gens partent, mais l'art reste' -- People leave, but art remains -- a quote often attributed to Kim Hyang-an, a Korean artist who lived most of her life between Korea, Paris, New York and Japan.
The musical centers on the lives of three real-life figures, but it features four actors on stage. At its core is Kim Hyang-an, a woman whose life was closely intertwined with two towering icons of Korean modern art -- the poet Yi Sang and the abstract painter Kim Whan-ki.
Her life unfolds in two timelines: one moving forward from 1936 under her birth name, Byun Dong-rim, and the other moving backward from her later years in 2004. The two timelines intersect to present contrasting yet complementary versions of the same person.
The musical premiered in 2022 and now returns for its third run after earning critical acclaim and winning the 8th Korean Musical Awards for best musical (for theaters under 400 seats), best script and best original score.
With its rich wordplay, poetic dialogue and cultural layers, this story of a poet and two cotemporary artists is best appreciated if you're fluent in Korean -- no subtitles are provided.
'L'art Reste' runs at Yes24 Stage until June 15.
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