The 7 Best Productions of 2019

Selected by The Korean Theatre Review

The 56th Dong-A Theater Awards

Best Stage Design

Scapin welcomes everyone to yeolin gaekseok for all performances!

Scapin, one of NTCK’s most popular productions, returns to the Seoul stage for the fourth time, now with yeolin gaekseok for all performances. Bursting with vibrant rhythms, pace, comedy, paradox, pathos, emotions, love, compassion, and even a few tears, NTCK's only comedy repertoire aims to enhance accessibility and lower viewing barriers in a yeolin gaekseok setting, ensuring that audiences can enjoy it in greater comfort. Don’t miss this ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in its vivid sensations! Join us this April and indulge in it with lighter hearts and bodies.

Scapin aims to offer relaxed performances in a yeolin gaekseok setting, enabling diverse audiences to enjoy the show with broader perspectives in a more relaxed environment. During these performances, noise and movement in the auditorium are permitted with minimal restrictions, and attendees are welcome to re-enter if they need a break from the performance.

Theater director Im Do-wan, known as one of the greatest masters of physical theater in Korea, infuses modern sensibilities into the original play, Scapin the Schemer (French: Les Fourberies de Scapin), written by the acclaimed French playwright Molière. This year’s production aims to provide audiences with endless laughter in a relaxed setting, enhancing their experience with a plethora of sensations. Audiences can expect non-stop, exhilarating humour, dazzling wordplay, and an exceptional ensemble cast, all accompanied by live music. As spring flowers bloom, this stage is ready to rejuvenate your everyday life!

Synopsis

When the curtain rises, playwright Molière appears on stage. He introduces himself, his work and the main characters. Then the story unfolds, inviting the entire audience to sing together. Two wealthy men, Argante and Géronte, plan an arranged marriage between their respective children, before embarking on a journey. In their absence, the two children in question each fall in love with individuals of ambiguous backgrounds. Upon discovering their parents' marriage plans, they seek assistance from Scapin, a servant in the household of Geronte. Scapin ingeniously devises a plan to rescue the young lovers, albeit not without personal motives.

“There’s hardly anything I can’t fix when I intervene.”

Written by Molière

Molière is one of the greatest masters of French comedy and a celebrated playwright/actor. In 17th century France, where only tragedy was deemed artistic, Molière changed the entire course of theater history by presenting witty satires on stage. The social impact of his work marked the beginning of French comedy. To this day, he remains one of the most widely read writers in France. His timeless popularity means his plays continue to be performed by countless theater companies around the world. The Molière Awards are considered the highest theater honor internationally.

Adapted and directed by Im Do-wan