"The charm of theater lies in being able to create a new stage every single day."
Actors Lee Seo-jin and Go Ah-sung shared these thoughts at a press conference held Wednesday, marking their theater debut through the play "Uncle Vanya." Produced by LG Arts Center, the work is a modern reinterpretation of Anton Chekhov's masterpiece by director Son Sang-kyu.
In the play, Vanya is a man who has devoted his entire life to managing an estate alongside his niece Sonya, all for the sake of the professor who was married to his late sister. But amid the emptiness and frustration of life, he unleashes the anger he has long suppressed. Lee Seo-jin plays Vanya, and Go Ah-sung plays Sonya.
A week has passed since the production opened on the 7th, but the two actors said they are still immersing themselves in the stage with a sense of tension. "The moment I open my eyes in the morning, I start mumbling my lines," Lee said. "I was so worried about forgetting them, but once I step on stage, my mouth moves on its own." Go added, "I'm so absorbed in the work that I talk in my sleep reciting monologues."
Both actors pointed to the live, immediate nature of theater as its greatest charm. "The process of creating the best possible stage every day while carrying that tension is what makes theater special," Lee said. "When I hear that each day's performance is different and steadily getting better, it gives me strength." Go also said, "What makes it special is completing the stage together with the audience."
They also emphasized that although the work was written in the late 19th century, it still resonates deeply with today's audiences. "Not just Vanya, but all the characters in the work are ordinary people we can easily find around us," Lee explained. "They hurt each other and clash, but you can understand where each of them is coming from."
The scene considered the highlight of the play is Sonya's final monologue offering comfort to Vanya. "It has been adapted with words even more tender than in the original," Go said. "I thought what people today, who all live with some kind of void, ultimately need is tenderness." Lee confided, "It's a scene where Vanya, who has never received genuine comfort in his entire life, is disarmed by Sonya's heartfelt words. I sobbed during rehearsals, and I still shed tears on stage every time."
Asked about reactions from those around him, Lee said with a smile, "Producer Na Young-seok told me he thought it would be boring because it's an old play, but it turned out to be really entertaining. He even sent me vodka as a cheering gift." He explained that because the characters, set in Russia, often drink in the play, Na sent the bottle as a gift after the actors mentioned they had never tried vodka.
Lee had previously stated that this production would be his "first and last play." He reiterated Wednesday that he "still feels the same way," while also noting that he was deeply impressed by the play "Equus." "I've received many offers for plays in the past but kept turning them down," he said. "I just loved 'Equus' so much that I watched many performances with different actors."
When asked about future goals, the two exchanged words of encouragement. "I hope senior Lee Seo-jin continues doing theater from now on," Go said. Lee responded, "My goal is for actress Go Ah-sung to win a theater award for this production." The performance runs at LG Arts Center Seoul through the 31st of this month.
