"At first, I couldn't understand Anna Karenina and even disliked her. But I came to empathize with her as she confronts society for love and happiness, and eventually fell in love with her."
Director Alina Chevik, who helms the musical "Anna Karenina," made these remarks at a press conference on the 12th. She is a leading Russian director who has been involved with the Russian original musical since its premiere. The production returns to Korean stages for the first time in seven years, based on Leo Tolstoy's novel of the same name. Set in late 19th-century Russian aristocratic society, the story depicts the tragic love affair of Anna, wife of a high-ranking official, who falls in love with young officer Vronsky, abandons her family, and meets her downfall.
"While reading the novel, I was so angered by Anna's every action that I initially thought I couldn't direct this work," Chevik said. "Over time, I began to look into her psychology and sorrow, and eventually fell in love with her."
Chevik is a prominent director at Moscow Operetta Theatre, Russia's premier musical production company, where she has scored consecutive hits with "Monte Cristo" and "Count Olaf."
The director urged audiences "not to view this merely as a love story." She explained, "Anna confronts society for her own happiness and love. The work raises the question of whether it is truly valid to judge an individual's mistakes and choices by the standards of social norms." Quoting the phrase "Man cannot judge man; only God can," she added, "There is room to reflect on the heated topic of society's judgment of individual mistakes."
Chevik described Russian musicals as "closer to European musicals that make audiences think and delve into emotional depth rather than cheerfulness, unlike Broadway."
She also addressed controversy surrounding the casting distribution. In this triple-cast production, while the three male leads have similar performance shares, female lead Ok Joo-hyun is scheduled for 23 of 38 total performances, compared to Lee Ji-hye's 8 and Kim So-hyang's 7, sparking debate. "Casting distribution is decided by the company, not by any specific individual," she said. "I understand this was discussed with the actors in advance."
She added, "Ok Joo-hyun is truly professional with tremendous energy and rich vocal power, which is why she was cast. I am also pleased with all the other Annas besides Ok Joo-hyun."
Regarding Korean actors, she praised, "They really practice hard. It's impressive how they work diligently to the end even when exhausted."
"Anna Karenina" is a production born from close collaboration between Korean actors with solid acting and vocal abilities and the original Russian creative team, including the director and choreographer who traveled to Korea. The work offers diverse visual elements through music spanning classical, rock, and crossover genres, along with overwhelming video and stage design that transports audiences to Russian winter.
"Anna Karenina" runs at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Grand Theater from the 20th of this month through March 29.