Go Ah-sung of 'Uncle Vanya': "I Thought It Was a Tragedy... But Audience Laughter Made Me Think It Could Be a Comedy"

Lee Seo-jin as Vanya and Go Ah-sung as Sonya Make Their Stage Debut
"Vanya's life is not so different from our own"

"All of the actors once discussed whether the play 'Uncle Vanya' is a comedy or a tragedy. I thought it was a tragedy, and the majority also voted for tragedy, but hearing the audience's laughter during performances made me think that perhaps it could be a comedy."

Ko A-sung, who plays Sonya, Vanya's niece in the play "Uncle Vanya" currently being performed at LG Arts Center, shared this in an interview on May 13. "Uncle Vanya" is one of the representative works of Russian playwright Anton Chekhov.

Charlie Chaplin once said, "Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot." Because it is difficult to easily distinguish between comedy and tragedy, Chekhov's plays are said to portray the most realistic aspects of human life. This is also why there are many who consider Chekhov an even greater playwright than Shakespeare.

In the play "Uncle Vanya," Seo-jin Lee (right), who plays 'Vanya,' and A-sung Ko, who plays 'Sonya.' LG Arts Center

Lee Seo-jin, who plays the main character Vanya, said he feels the enduring power of the classics because Vanya's life is very similar to his own. He said, "From the moment I started reading the script and began rehearsals, I felt like the characters in 'Uncle Vanya' were people who are actually around me now," adding, "Even though it's a classic written more than 100 years ago, I thought the story fits perfectly with the present day." He continued, "I realized that many modern plays are actually based on these classics, and that no matter the era, people's lives remain the same."

Because the play depicts the most realistic aspects of our lives, it can be particularly challenging for actors to perform. Moreover, both Lee Seo-jin and Ko A-sung are making their theatrical stage debuts.

Ko A-sung said, "I've often heard that among plays, Chekhov's works are the most difficult," and added, "Because Chekhov's plays do not have dramatic incidents, I was told that I would need to maximize and express the subtle relationships and emotions between characters, and I am truly experiencing that through the actual performances."

Lee Seo-jin said that, for this reason, there were many debates during the rehearsal process. He commented, "I've never had so many discussions in my life as I did for this play," and continued, "We rehearsed and debated every day, and even at home, I kept pondering. I found myself wondering when I was last this passionate about acting." He added, "Since this is my first time on stage, the process was incredibly demanding, but I think that's the greatest charm of theater."

Ko A-sung also mentioned that her interpretation of Sonya's character changed significantly after discussing with director Son Sang-kyu. "At first, I thought Sonya was a mature and calm person. But director Son Sang-kyu wanted her to be a more lively girl. He asked me to show more of her restlessness and nervousness. So, Sonya became a much busier and more energetic girl than I originally imagined."

Theatrical performance scene of 'Uncle Vanya'. LG Arts Center

A scene from the play 'Uncle Vanya'. LG Arts Center

Vanya is a character who, together with Sonya, has spent his entire life looking after a rural estate. When Professor Serebryakov, the husband of his late sister, announces plans to sell the estate, Vanya feels both anger and despair. The final scene, in which Sonya comforts her uncle Vanya, is particularly famous. Sonya encourages Vanya to endure and keep living despite the hardships, assuring him that one day they will find rest beside a compassionate God. Sonya's consolation is also the message Chekhov wished to convey through this play, which is why directors of "Uncle Vanya" pay special attention to this scene.

In the LG Arts Center production, Sonya delivers her consolation calmly and quietly, while Vanya sobs softly, bringing the play to a close. Ko A-sung shared that she had once watched the BBC adaptation of "Uncle Vanya," in which Sonya and Vanya both burst into tears together.

Ko A-sung explained that in the LG Arts Center's "Uncle Vanya," the aspect of warmth is emphasized. She said, "In the original play, the comfort isn't portrayed as particularly warm, but director Son Sang-kyu added a touch of kindness in his adaptation." She added, "Director Son Sang-kyu said that what people need most nowadays is warmth, and I completely agree. I hope that the audience can deeply feel the warmth Sonya conveys to Vanya." She also commented, "I was curious whether I could make a senior like Lee Seo-jin, who has a 'T' personality, cry, but he shed tears much more easily than I expected, which made me feel proud."

Could Sonya's comforting words, delivered almost like a chant, feel awkward or embarrassing to Vanya? Lee Seo-jin joked that he is going through a severe midlife crisis and insisted that was not the case at all. He said, "At my age, I think people should actually be comforted by younger people, so I want even more consolation." He continued, "Just like Sonya says, even if life is hard and painful, in the end, we return to our daily lives and keep living—that is our life."

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