Chapter: 46
“Lee Hye-jin! Could you turn a bit more this way while speaking? We can’t see your face well!”
Thus began the serious stage rehearsals.
In the midst of it all, we were munching through the script, interpreting it piece by piece.
The reading process, of course, was fundamental.
The goal after about six weeks of practice was, ultimately, to “perform without mistakes on stage.”
A perfect performance.
That was the most basic requirement for a play.
“Joo Seoyeon.”
“Yes?”
Assistant director Kim Cheong-woon rested his chin on his hand while looking at the girl in front of him.
In typical theater settings, it’s the assistant director who guides the actors.
Thus, having seen many actors up until now, Kim Cheong-woon found Seoyeon particularly special.
The genius child actor, Joo Su-yeon.
Her acting skills far exceeded Kim Cheong-woon’s expectations.
In a good way, of course.
“Your performance still feels closer to TV drama acting, but you definitely ride the emotional wave well.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“But I think your blocking could improve. Your eye contact and gestures are really great, though!”
“Blocking? Which part exactly…?”
Curiously, Seoyeon asked where she might be lacking in blocking.
“There’s that monologue part where you’re looking at Shim Cheong-seok, right? Could you cross over the stage a bit more during that?”
“Isn’t that too wide of a movement for a monologue?”
“The more intense your emotions are, the better it looks. And please deliver the monologue as if you’re talking to the audience.”
Talking to the audience…
Upon hearing that, Seoyeon nodded her head.
‘Did she get that?’
Such nuances couldn’t be conveyed through words alone.
Even if it was Seoyeon… this was tough…
“Okay! Let’s give it a shot.”
As Kim Cheong-woon said that, Shim Cheong-seok approached nearby.
“Alright then.”
With his words, Seoyeon calmly gathered her emotions.
The girl stalking idol Bae Seong-hak, Hong Jeong-hee.
Feeling the surface of her emotions, she exhaled.
‘It’s fascinating every time.’
Method acting.
That concept existed, but what Seoyeon was doing differed from that.
A slight “Seoyeon” essence remained.
When asked about it, Seoyeon replied, “It’s practice, after all.”
“I’ll do it properly during the rehearsal.”
‘If she does that well, how far could she go?’
Seoyeon recalled her past performances she’d seen a long time ago.
Recently, Kim Cheong-woon had rewatched that drama. The emotional acting had been overly sentimental for a child.
That was probably her biggest strength.
But paradoxically, such emotional expressions wouldn’t serve her well in theater.
Seoyeon‘s emotional acting was incredibly detailed, but its true value was showcased only when the screen was enlarged, which completely obscured that in the theater context.
Depending on the audience’s perspective, they might miss it entirely, as conveying those subtle emotions was often more challenging than expected.
Therefore, gestures and movements were crucial, but those areas conflicted with method acting.
If she fully immersed in her character, then those gestures and movements would surely become a bit awkward.
Eventually, Joo Seoyeon had to integrate some “theatrical skills.”
And her practice was all about naturally melding those aspects.
“I can’t believe it. Why on earth is he with someone like her?”
Her lines resounded clearly as she looked towards the audience.
Listening from the audience, Kim Cheong-woon observed Seoyeon’s naturally moving feet.
That was the movement he had commanded.
The monologue conveyed that feeling of speaking to the audience beautifully.
“How was that?”
“It was very good.”
After her performance, Kim Cheong-woon gave Seoyeon a thumbs up.
It was a delight to witness a talented actor.
However…
‘There’s something oddly lingering.’
Kim Cheong-woon hesitated to mention it.
In truth, it wasn’t a significant issue requiring comment.
It almost felt like it was completed just with that performance.
“First, you should rest a bit because I need to check on the other actors.”
“Sure.”
As Seoyeon subtly stepped back at the assistant director’s words…
‘Did I do something wrong?’
Kim Cheong-woon’s reaction felt peculiar.
But if something was indeed wrong, Kim Cheong-woon would have been the first to mention it.
“……..”
After pondering, Seoyeon approached none other than Shim Cheong-seok.
The one who had just shared the stage with her.
“Ah, that?”
He immediately seemed to understand.
“There’s no problem, but it feels like there is.”
“What do you mean?”
Hearing Seoyeon’s question, Shim Cheong-seok crossed his legs casually in the chair.
He was pressing his temple with his thumb, pondering how to articulate his thoughts.
“Lack of affection.”
“……Huh?”
“Think about it. Why is Hong Jeong-hee stalking Bae Seong-hak?”
“Ah.”
At that moment, Seoyeon finally grasped what he meant.
“Obsession, inferiority, and disdain towards Song Min-seo. That comes through really well. But the affectionate feelings towards Bae Seong-hak don’t seem to come across strongly.”
“Is that so?”
“Honestly, I don’t think you necessarily need that in this play. If you try to cram too much in, it might end up being a muddle.”
It was better to emphasize the dark emotions Seoyeon was currently portraying.
Shim Cheong-seok said so.
Or perhaps it was more a suggestion along the lines of “You’re doing well enough.”
The vibe felt different from when he had previously provoked her.
“……Why are you staring at me?”
“I’m not. I just have naturally this intense look.”
“That’s not true.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Despite Seoyeon’s stubbornness, Shim Cheong-seok chuckled lightly.
“Anyway, that’s enough for now. Don’t sweat the details.”
“Fine.”
That was enough, but somehow Seoyeon felt her pride wounded.
It wasn’t like Shim Cheong-seok to offer such consideration, which made her mood even worse.
‘But…’
The ‘affection acting’…
Ugh, Seoyeon bit her lower lip.
That was true.
She unconsciously felt as though she had excluded such feelings.
‘I’ve been feeling a bit.’
Affectionate acting was a crucial element in dramas and movies.
Just because she avoided it didn’t mean she could escape it.
Even though it was okay for Hong Jeong-hee to lack it, that didn’t mean it would be the same for her future roles.
‘I’ll have to think about this.’
It’s an even harder act to manage regarding affectionate feelings, given the ambiguity between male and female roles.
Portraying affection for others was something she couldn’t evade as a method actor.
*
Yeonhwa High School in Seoul.
Famous for its modern buildings and pretty uniforms, it was a school where high schoolers aiming for the arts often gathered, rather than academic pursuits.
Among those, the theater club boasted both active actors and eager aspirants, making its level fairly high.
“Lee Ji-yeon! Oh, our star actress!”
The mentor of the theater club, Song Da-yeon, flitted toward Lee Ji-yeon like a butterfly and firmly shook her hand.
“…What’s going on?”
“Don’t be so cold with me.”
Ji-yeon frowned.
It had been a while since she was told to drop by the theater club, and this was the first thing she faced.
‘She must be here to ask for something.’
Reading Ji-yeon’s expression, Song Da-yeon cleared her throat and continued.
“I’ve got good news for you. They’re shooting for a variety show called Past, Looking Back at Memories, right?”
“I don’t know it.”
“…Ah, yeah, you wouldn’t.”
Is this show so unpopular? Song Da-yeon thought, but continued explaining.
“They’re going to film it at our school this time. The concept is…”
Song Da-yeon elaborated on what she had heard in the staff meeting, intriguing the other theater club students who were eavesdropping.
“A reenactment of The Sun Hidden by the Moon?”
“That’s exactly right!”
“But how does that relate to me…?”
“What do you mean? Of course, it’d be amazing if you could play the role of Princess Yeonhwa!”
As Song Da-yeon said that and glanced at the other students, they looked somewhat regretful but nodded in agreement soon after.
Lee Ji-yeon stood out as the best performer, possessing both skills and stunning looks in the theater club.
“Princess Yeonhwa?”
However, Ji-yeon’s expression was ambiguous.
Wasn’t this a familiar role?
‘Isn’t Park Jung-woo coming too?’
If that’s true, the internet would surely blow up.
Given that the name of the high school was Yeonhwa High School, it was like the heavens aligned.
‘The scenario roughly involves reenacting episode 8 from the original story.’
Episode 8, the one featuring the reunion scene.
Where the grown-up Yoon Seo-il and Lee Hye-wol meet again.
Naturally, the viewership ratings exploded, and reviews were quite favorable, but…
‘There were also lots of criticisms.’
That was when Ha Ye-seo, the actress playing the grown-up Princess Yeonhwa, faced harsh criticism.
The character lacked presence compared to the child actor.
Something just wasn’t fitting.
Those evaluations had not changed much since then, and Ha Ye-seo often brought it up.
It was tough to be compared to a child actor.
“Well, I’ll do it.”
“Really?”
“However, can I ask the agency to send an additional person? I want my makeup done properly.”
“Oh, of course, that’s fine.”
Ji-yeon nodded.
And then she softly smiled.
It was because an amusing thought had crossed her mind.
*
A big van rolled down the road.
Inside sat a casually dressed man with a blindfold on, eyes closed.
“Park Jung-woo, we’re almost there, so start waking up.”
“……”
How annoying.
That was the first thought that popped into Park Jung-woo’s mind.
Originally, he had no interest in this shoot.
“Please, just once, help me out! I’ve been begging you!”
A request from an acquaintance he’d accidentally met during a previous shoot.
And since it coincided with his break, he decided to help out as a special favor.
“Past, Looking Back at Memories is doing both drama and variety this time, right?”
“Exactly! It would be odd to have you as a guest and just do one thing.”
“Ugh, why me?”
“Why? Because you’re Park Jung-woo.”
The hottest rising actor of the moment.
His next film was already planned out.
And he’d be the lead.
It was a well-funded movie with a great director.
Everyone thought there were no thorns on his path; he was golden.
“Now, doing The Sun Hidden by the Moon… isn’t that why this variety show isn’t doing well?”
“Don’t say that. Still, it’s a pretty significant role for you.”
“…That’s true.”
At Ha Hyeong-hwan’s words, Park Jung-woo nodded.
A significant role, indeed.
‘I wonder what that girl is up to now?’
In his acting career, Park Jung-woo didn’t have many shocking experiences.
That girl from The Sun Hidden by the Moon, the one he met there, remained vivid in his memories.
Her performance.
Her final goodbye.
“……”
The image of the girl crying at the awards ceremony flashed in his mind.
An emotionless, dull child.
She shattered Park Jung-woo’s pride as a child actor for the very first time.
That girl, who had looked at everyone while crying…
And her smiling face remained etched in his mind.
Sometimes, Park Jung-woo pondered if he should have persuaded her to continue acting at that time.
What if he suggested that taking a break was such a waste?
‘It’s all in the past.’
While lost in thought, the van suddenly came to a halt.
He could feel his manager’s gaze turning backward.
“Park Jung-woo.”
“Yes?”
Erasing the specter of that girl from his mind, he slowly opened the van door.
At that moment…
A chorus of many students’ cheers erupted.
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