Play 'The Two Popes' first show in Korea

연합뉴스 / 2022-08-31 11:14:23

▲This photo, provided by Acom, shows the trailer image of "The Two Popes." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo, provided by Acom, shows the practice scene of the play "The Two Popes." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo, provided by Acom, shows the poster for the play "The Two Popes." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, August 31 (Yonhap) -- "Silence ! I don't hear the lord's voice anymore... I can no longer sit on the constellation. "

Pope Benedict XVI is suffering as he all of a sudden cannot hear the lord's voice, which he had heard forever. Cardinal Bergoglio, the one who bothered and disagreed with Pope Benedict XVI was the one who broke the pin-drop silence. Pope Benedict XVI accepts the words of a man who is contrary to his beliefs as the "voice of God" and decides to give him the authority of being a pope, showing a mature and noble attitude towards being "different."

The play "The Two Popes," based on the true story of Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope to resign in 598 years after Gregorio XII and Pope Francis, the following pope was presented for the first time in Korea at Hanjeon Art Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the August 30.

It is written by Anthony McCarten, also known as the playwright of the movie "Bohemian Rhapsody', and the first show was in the UK in 2019. Following that, it was made into a film by Netflix and was nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Globes.

It is the world's first licensed show and it got attention as the experienced elderly actor Shin Goo played as Pope Benedict XVI.

At the premiere on August 30, actor Shin Goo was able to perfectly act out the weight of Pope Benedict XVI, who has lived as a priest and a serious scholar for his entire life.

At the same time, the play was able to bring out some humorous scenes, like when Pope Benedict XVI said "Go away, Satan" to a nun offering a beer to him.

The human and desperate aspect of Pope Benedict XVI, confused in front of a rapidly changing world and searching for the disappearing voice of God, transcends the difference between religion and ideology and truly touches the hearts of the audience.

Actor Jeong Dong-hwan (73) played Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) and performed with Shin Goo. Along with actor Nam Myung-ryul, Jeong Dong-hwan comes to the audience in the form of a cheerful pope, Francis, who keeps his warm heart for the poor as he feels guilty not being able to protect his colleagues under past dictatorships.

Based on the solid adaptation of the original piece, the play touches the hearts of the audience through various famous lines.

Especially when Pope Francis screams "Where was Jesus, where was I at that time," recalling the days of the dictatorship in the 70s, and Sister Sofia, who consoles him by saying that "dictatorship is taking away the freedom to choose," feels more special to the Korean audience as they have a hurtful past.

According to Pope Francis, "the Lord changes and moves as the world changes," and Pope Benedict XVI, "the Lord is the unchanging way and truth."The two main characters expressing their differences and running into conflicts fills the play and keeps the audience entertained for the entire two-hour run time.

At last, Pope Francis says, "Truth cannot be accepted without love," and the two understand each other and console each other.

At the beginning of the play, Pope Benedict XVI says, "Us human beings cannot find the standard and the directions without the Lord." However, in conclusion, the play shows the friendship of the two people and how it is human beings' responsibility to deliver the lord's message and grow it out.

The show will be on till October 23.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Dowon Kim.)

(END)