Minho to star in his first theatre play ‘Waiting for waiting for Godot’ opening on September 7th

The play announced its Korean premiere on September 7th with a splendid cast lineup. Leading the cast are veteran actor Lee Soonjae, who has been acting for 69 years, Kai, Park Jungbok, Choi Minho, and Kwak Dongyeon. The play has been selling out all of its Seoul and nationwide tours since December of last year, is expected to continue the ‘Godot’ craze with director Oh Kyungtaek and production by Park Company.

The play is the representative work of American actor and playwright Dave Hanson, and is a highly praised work that pays homage to the vague and abstract and makes it easier and more fun to understand. It was first performed at the ‘2013 New York International Fringe Festival’ and was recognized for its excellent humor and witty lines that humorously express the meaning and depth of the original work, gaining great popularity from both audiences and critics. Since then, it has been loved by audiences all over the world, including the US, UK, Hungary, and New Zealand, receiving rave reviews such as “the most memorable work of the year in LA.”

The work depicts the main characters Estragon and Vladimir’s understudies, Esther and Val, in the dressing room of the play Waiting for Godot. The two actors who wait endlessly behind the stage wrestle with questions about art, life, and theater. Their appearances, sometimes comical and sometimes serious, pose essential questions about life, life, and art to the audience. This work, which does not miss the meaning and depth of the original work but breaks down the formality and presents it in an easy manner with a realistic background, is enough to captivate the audience.

The main characters, Esther and Val, are the understudies of Estragon and Vladimir in Waiting for Godot, respectively, and the chemistry between the two characters stands out in this work. In particular, this season will feature the unique combination of the seasoned Esther and the young, old-fashioned Val, and the young, old-fashioned Esther and the late-blooming rookie Val, which will provide a unique fun that makes you feel like you are watching a different performance for each pair, even though it is the same performance.

The role of ‘Esther’ was played by actor Lee Soonjae, who recently received a standing ovation from his junior actors when he performed a special stage at the Baeksang Arts Awards. The oldest active actor in South Korea, who is celebrating his 69th debut this year, is taking on the role of the understudy of his closest junior, Shin Goo, and attention is focused on his challenge. Kai, who showed off his great acting in the play last year, will be playing the role of ‘Val’, who will show off his chemistry with Lee Soonjae’s Esther. This is a completely different character from the plays and in which he appeared, and you can catch a glimpse of the actor’s innocent and quirky charm. Singer and actor Choi Minho was cast as a double cast to challenge himself on the stage. Choi Minho, who has been receiving attention for his stable acting skills and diverse charms in various works such as the movies and plans to captivate the audience with a different side of himself that has never been seen before through this play.

Meanwhile, Kwak Dongyeon and Park Jungbok portray the young old fart ‘Esther’ and the late bloomer rookie ‘Val’. Actor Kwak Dongyeon, who returned to the stage after completing the journey of the popular drama ‘Queen of Tears’, has been double cast with actor Lee Soonjae in the role of ‘Esther’. Based on the spectrum that freely crosses the small screen and the stage from the dramas ‘Vincenzo’ and ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ to the play ‘Elephant Song’ and the musical ‘Something Rotten’, he will show a different side of himself on stage than before. Actor Park Jungbok will join him as the older rookie ‘Val’. Actor Park Jungbok is known as a ‘trustworthy actor’ for his consistent performances on major stages such as the plays ‘Art’, ‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’, and ‘History Boys’. In particular, Kwak Dongyeon, who plays ‘Esther’, has previously worked with him in the play ‘Elephant Song’, so expectations are high for the ‘chemistry’ between the two actors.

The play , which is garnering much attention due to its cast of talented actors, is directed by Oh Kyungtaek, who has been recognized for his sophisticated mise-en-scène and captivating directing.

The play will open on September 7th at Yes24 Stage 3.