This spring, theatergoers will witness a rare theatrical coincidence: two productions of "Hedda Gabler," both starring major stars, are opening just one day apart.
The National Theater Company of Korea will revive "Hedda Gabler" at Myeongdong Theater for the first time in 13 years, beginning May 8.
The play was a critical and commercial success when it premiered in Korea in 2012, with Lee Hye-young’s portrayal of the title role earning her best actress honors at both the 5th Korea Theater Awards and the 49th Donga Theater Awards. Now, Lee will undertake a reprise of the role that became a career-defining triumph.
"Hedda Gabler" is Park Jeong-hee’s first production at the National Theater Company since being appointed its artistic director last year.
Performances run through June 1, with English subtitles available every Thursday and Sunday (except for May 18).
On May 7, another production of "Hedda Gabler" opens at LG Arts Center Seoul in Magok, starring Lee Young-ae in her long-awaited return to the stage -- her first in 32 years. The run continues through June 8, directed by Jun In-chul.
“The allure of Hedda lies in her complexity. She’s a woman with no single ‘right’ answer. I was drawn to the chance to present a new version of her," said Lee Young-ae at a recent press conference.
Henrik Ibsen’s "Hedda Gabler," first published in 1890, is regarded as one of the most significant works of modern drama. Its protagonist Hedda, who chooses to go by her maiden name rather than her husband’s, defied 19th-century gender norms with her assertion of female autonomy -- earning the play its reputation as a “female Hamlet.”
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com
