"Thought I Loved Only One Person, Not Homosexuality... Choi Sooyoung's Immersive Performance Impressive" [On Stage]

Theater 'Wife' Lead Actress Susanna Park Ji-a
Wants to Offer Audience a 'Beautiful Resonance'
Learned a Lot from Immersive Choi Soo-young and Persistent Kim So-jin
Debuted in Strong Roles, Hopes to Challenge Comedy Genre

"Nora slamming the door in A Doll's House is more important than the cannons at Waterloo or Sedan."

Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw compared the sound of the door in the final scene of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, where Nora leaves her husband and two children, to the weapons of war, calling it one of the most controversial endings in theater history. Perhaps because the message the play conveyed was so powerful, the diverse portrayals of Nora, continuously reinterpreted and meeting audiences even now, culminate in the play Wife, which spans four generations and stands as one of the pinnacle works.

Actor Park Ji-a from the play 'Wife' is being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

The story, originating from Ibsen's work, spans 60 years and intricately depicts the future of marriage and gender identity. Park Jia, who plays the protagonist Susanna in Wife, explains, "From past to future, Wife superficially discusses LGBTQ+ and women's issues, but ultimately it is a multilayered work that deals with humans, love, life, and the issues that arise from caring and observing these." Even a month after the opening, she still recites lines every morning and studies the play, struggling to solve unresolved issues. We met her directly at the LG Arts Center Seoul, where the performance is ongoing. Below is an interview with her.

- The play was a hot topic during its UK premiere in 2019 and also received attention during its Korean premiere in 2020. How did you feel when you were offered the role?

▲ When I saw the performance during the 2020 premiere, I thought it was truly a wonderful work. I even contacted actor Oh Yong, who performed from the premiere to this revival, to ask about the play. Then, last year, by chance, I was offered the role of Susanna and began preparing. The amount of material I had to master beyond the lines was vast, making it more daunting and worrisome than the script I had comfortably read before. Since it was not a field I was familiar with, I was unsure where to start or what to grasp. However, because the good feelings I had from the premiere were vivid, I had no hesitation in choosing the role.

Play Wife.
[Photo by Glim Company]

- In Hollywood, actors sometimes declare boycotts when asked to play roles that differ from their own sexual identity, citing difficulties. Did you face any challenges playing a homosexual character in this production?

▲ I couldn't approach it at first. I thought, "I am that person. I am a lesbian, a homosexual," so during the first rehearsal, I couldn't get close. Then I changed my mindset. I thought, "It doesn't matter who I love," and "What if I am someone who loves without distinctions?" I began to approach the character as a person I had to love. As time passed, it felt less like a matter of heterosexual or homosexual love and more like the person I wanted to meet and approach just happened to be a woman. Approaching the character this way helped me find a clue. My goal was to offer the audience a 'beautiful resonance' in their hearts and lives.

- This production uses double casting, and despite being a play, it has many repeat viewers. How is the chemistry with the other actors?

▲ Actress Choi Sooyoung, who plays Daisy, adapted so quickly to the stage performance that I was surprised. She was not shy about approaching even difficult seniors to ask questions and immerse herself in the work, which was impressive. Kim Ryeo-eun, who plays the same role, is quiet but constantly and diligently works hard. When we rehearse together, we worry about how we will part at the end because we get so absorbed. Lee Seung-joo, who plays Robert, has a strong focus and sensitivity, so when we work together, I get nervous too, and we exchange good energy. Song Jae-rim practices pronunciation with a pen in his mouth even in the dressing room, always contemplating his role. Senior actor Jung Woong-in, who plays Peter, is always ready to run when called and supports the stage with great energy. Actor Oh Yong and Shin Hye-ok, who plays Marjorie, are such close friends that I trust they will accept anything I do. Hong Sung-won, who plays Eric, is so good at acting that he memorized all his lines during rehearsals and showed a perfect performance. Above all, Kim So-jin, who also plays Susanna, is very persistent. These days, we talk almost every day, discussing the tempo and chemistry of the performance, sharing difficulties. Ultimately, it is about the connection with the actors you meet. If I don't nurture myself well to meet them, no matter what the other actor gives, I can't receive it. To connect with other actors, I have to prepare and stand firmly. Even at this moment, this is what I am thinking about.

Actress Park Ji-a from the play 'Wife' is giving an interview to Asia Economy. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

- What was the most important aspect you wanted to express while playing Susanna?

▲ Since I had to tell the story of a person who existed in one era and might exist in the future?though I can't guarantee that (laughs)?I inevitably felt a sense of responsibility. It was a time when LGBTQ+ people existed but were not visible or recognized, and since that atmosphere still exists today, I thought it was a part that needed to be expressed delicately and precisely for those people. Perhaps because this concern was sensed, during rehearsals, people from related organizations visited through the director and production team, read the script, provided information, observed the rehearsal process, and checked even the unimaginable and unexperienced details, which surprised me. What was more surprising was that it was not about pretending but that they felt it was their story, and that this was not just a play script dealing with such topics but 'our story,' which they empathized with. At that point, I felt an even heavier responsibility.

- Following your powerful performance in the drama The Glory, you continue to take on challenging characters in this play, and you are often described as a 'skilled actor' on set. What do you think about this label?

▲ I debuted in the film Coastline, and since I started with difficult roles, it seems to have continued that way. When casting offers came with expectations of a similar image based on previous works, I intentionally avoided them, which caused some gaps. But after some time and reflection, I thought that if I spend this time well, my time will inevitably come. The title 'skilled actor' is an excessive compliment. I am just grateful.

- What goals or plans do you want to challenge in the future?

▲ I want to try comedy. I really like B-grade movies. Actually, I am quite a funny actor (laughs). But since I have mostly taken on strong roles, I think people don't consider me for comedy. I want to challenge it with the mindset of mining for gold.

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