[Review] The Neat Feel of Temple Cuisine, Play 'Durango'

The Story of an Immigrant Breadwinner Laid Off and His Two Sons

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Even among family members who live closely together, there can be awkward and uncomfortable relationships. However, that awkwardness does not make them want to break the family bond. This is because they believe that a father must have a son, and a son must have a father.

The play Durango deals with the story of an awkward and uncomfortable father and son who face each other every day in the same space. Father Bu-seung and eldest son Isaac have a daily relationship filled with nagging and retorts that burst out after holding back. The younger son Jimmy acts like a lubricant, trying to create a softer atmosphere between the two awkward individuals. The three live in Arizona, USA.

The play begins with Bu-seung being laid off. Bu-seung consoles his troubled mind by boasting about his two sons to a security guard he has known for a long time. He says the eldest son Isaac will enter medical school, and the younger son Jimmy, a swimming champion, will be able to attend a good university... However, Bu-seung really dislikes Isaac, who plays the guitar at home.

On the evening Bu-seung returns home with his belongings after being laid off, he suggests to his two sons that they go on a trip. The destination is Durango, Colorado. Isaac awkwardly refuses, saying what kind of trip it is, but eventually agrees to go after persistent persuasion from his younger brother Jimmy.

The next morning, the three sit in the car. Bu-seung is in the driver's seat, Isaac in the passenger seat, and this scene gives a sense of family. Although uncomfortable, they are still the closest to each other. Since it is a trip they are taking together, and a place made with difficulty, perhaps Bu-seung and Isaac wanted to have a warm conversation.

However, their conversation soon turns into nagging and retorts. In the awkward atmosphere, Bu-seung launches into a long speech about the history of his homeland, Korea. The two sons have never been there. Bu-seung himself has not been there for over 20 years...

The play portrays the journey of the three as a road movie heading to Durango. Through their conversations, they reflect on their past lives and future. Each of their secrets, which they could not easily share despite being family, are gradually revealed. The three also recall memories of the wife and mother who passed away long ago.

The reason they can ultimately be bound as a family seems to be because of the absence of the mother and wife. Although the absence of the mother and wife is a difficult situation for Bu-seung and his two sons, it may be why the father feels he must be warmer to his sons, and the sons to their father.

Therefore, although the subject of the head of the family being laid off could be handled sensationally, Durango does not do so. Although Bu-seung feels a sudden surge of anger when his sons make a choice that shatters the meaning of his life so far, he simply utters a short complaint, "Eh!" and swallows it inside.

Thus, Durango gives the impression of a play like temple food. The production team introduced the play Durango as "a modest and ordinary family?but their secrets are anything but ordinary."

The play does not specifically reveal what kind of place Durango, the destination chosen by the three, is. It even dilutes the meaning of why the three went to Durango, and the play ends. What matters is not Durango, but the journey.

Because it deals with the modest daily life of a family that is far from light, it has a simple yet profound strength. Just when you think about 70 minutes have passed, the play ends. The running time of the play is 100 minutes.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.