Intro

Shim-Ch'ong who made her father's vision return to him, plunged herself into the deep water again to save the world.

Synopsis

Year 2015, why is Shim-Ch'ong plunging into the sea again?
A jarring revision of the legend of a filial daughter who volunteers to drown herself in return for the restoration of her blind father's sight. In OH, Taesuk's violent retelling, the daughter, Shim-Ch'ong, is abruptly placed in a seamy modern underworld of thieves, pimps, and prostitutes, where her plunge in the sea no longer offers hope of redemption but serves rather as a moving reminder of the fragility of goodness in contemporary society. There is a young man named CHUNG, Sae-myung, whose heart of compassion towards others is a character trait hardly found these days. The audience enjoys the theatrical entertainment that the director brings through humor and satire embedded in the struggle of the young man, but ends up empathizing with him. There really is nothing to laugh about, but it leaks out anyway and you feel the chill clawing in the back of your neck!

Review

"Compression of corruptive daily lifes and visualize the inhumanity, Full of entertainment! Realization of a social justice with sensational expressions."
- Seo Yeon Ho: Korean University, Theater Critic

"Full of stunning, entertaining and mischievous play, asks to audience what is the meaning of the theatrical play?"
- Han Sang Chul: Hallym University, Theater Critic

"Apocalyptic Theatre! - Theatrical expression of Taesuk Oh’s style, Lively engages with Paper boxes and puppets and marvelous imagination of theater production"
- Kim Mi Do: Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Theater Critic

"Black comedy based on the classic story of Simcheong and is a satire of society, it gives not just laughter tears but tears of sadness at the end"
- May 19th, 2004 Chung Sang Young, Editor of The Hanjyoreh

"Unexpected reversal, at the last scene, performers and audience is all overwhelmed with emotional ending."
- May 13th 2004 Lee Jong Do, Editor of Hankook Ilbo

Photos and video

Creator / artist

The Mokhwa ("Raw Cotton") Repertory Company (MRC) is led by playwright/director OH, Tae-suk, who has established a unique world of theatre since 1967. The MRC was founded in 1984 with a premiere production of Africa. Over the past two decades the company has been steadfastly dedicated to creating fifty plays by OH, Tae-suk including MRC’s representative works such as Lifecord, Intimacy Between Father and Son, Ch’unp’ung’s Wife, Why Did Shim-Ch’ong Plunge into the Sea Twice?, Prisoner of Thousand Years, and Bicycle. MRC is a theatre company that expresses most vividly the Korean colors, language, and cultural identity. Starting with a 1987 international tour, it has performed in various countries including Germany, Japan, and the USA, helping raise awareness of the Korean culture and ethos through original theatre works. In Korea, the company has built its peerless reputation as a cuttingedge experimental theatre group.

Promotion Infomation

TOUR SIZE
Performers : 22
Staff : 2

DURATION
90 min. (No intermission)

STAGE SIZE
Width : 8 m, Depth : 8 m, Height : 5 m

Contact

JEONG, Jee-young

Interview Link

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