The harsh realities of Korea’s theater scene are transformed into sharp B-grade comedy in the returning play "Matryoshka," which officially opened its new season in Daehangno.
Director Choi Hae-joo described the production as “a national-level comedy combining the verbal wit of director Jang Jin with the unpredictable chaos of Ray Cooney-style humor,” emphasizing the play’s uniquely layered comic energy.
"Matryoshka" follows the desperate survival story of a small theater troupe drowning in debt while struggling to stage a production. During its original run, the play gained a cult following after recording sold-out performances and a perfect audience rating score.
At a press call held April 30 at Raon Hall inside Myeongbo Art Hall in Seoul, writer Seo Hong-seok explained that the work was directly inspired by his own experiences running a theater company in Ilsan.
“People working in the industry may find it tragic, but audiences will probably find it hilarious,” Seo said. “It looks like a comedy on the outside, but inside there’s another layer of sadness and collapse. That’s why we named it ‘Matryoshka.’”
The new season also introduces a refreshed lineup for the role of Nam Dong-jin, the struggling troupe leader and director. Veteran actors Son Jong-hak, Yoon Je-moon, Jung Suk-yong, Jo Hee-bong and Tae Hang-ho each bring different textures to the character.
Choi noted that Son approaches the role with traditional acting depth, while Jo emphasizes situational comedy and Tae amplifies the eccentric personality-driven humor of the production.
Jo Hee-bong said the story deeply resonated with his own experiences of survival in the performing arts world, while Son Jong-hak described the script as “a genre unlike anything I had seen before.”
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
Copyright ⓒ 뉴스컬처 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지
본 콘텐츠는 뉴스픽 파트너스에서 공유된 콘텐츠입니다.
