Christmas By The River; Seoul, City Hall

The picture appears to be small, if you click on it, you can see the pictures full-sized. The river was lit up like a Christmas parade, white lights were everywhere, and surrounding the snail shaped sculpture at the head of the river, a wall of lights moved anf flashed, MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, and HAPPY NEW YEAR. I am happy to be in Seoul and to experience Christmas here, with lights, and the pop music blaring, making my ears bleed from its volume--matching my nose, bleeding from the chilled, dry wind. Korea. glowing lights and loud music on nearly any day, but here on Christmas, somehow extra-specially so.
Merry Christmas.

The Wizard of Oz, the Musical; in Korean

For Christmas, Kelly, Jaime, and I went to Seoul and saw the first officially lisenced version of the Korean edition of the Wizard of Oz. Wow, it was amazing. I love any kind of live performances, but I don't think i've ever seen any sort of live professional performance show. I love theater, it makes me feel like a kid again, playing pretend, taking part in the surprise and wonder of the wonderfully, obviously make-believe play-acting.

Dorothy (Doroshi) was incredibly impressive; the tin man did piourettes, and the dopey scaredy-cat Lion was well played.

the sets were fantastic, and it had all those wonderful songs in it. I was shocked a few times by snaps of fire, and Dorothy flying off the ground during the tornado scene, and impressed by the creativeness with a revolving yellow-brick road and inventivelness of costumes that were very Oz, but still incredibly comically true to Korean tastes.

We sat and watched and read the subtitles from the tv screens on the back of the chairs. It was interesting to watch the show and see that they were true to the original script, with minor adjustments for rhyming purposes. I know that what I was reading was not exactly what they were saying, as I am sort of understanding more korean each day. It makes me wonder, how exactly true is it? what they are saying to what I am reading? and then to see the Korean audience watch the show, and kids seeing it for the first time, and everyone ever ever ever seeing it in their own native language, that was a treat. For some reason, the entire Korean audience found the phrase "Theres no place like home;" to be the funniest line in the show. I don't know why, and I wonder...why? I will ask someone someday. but for now, it will remain a mystery.

At the end of the play, when the final bow appeared, Doroshi began to sing once more, they put up the words in Hangul/Korean on all the screens, and everyone in the audience sang over the rainbow in Hangul/Korean together. I am so happy to have seen a new version of a very loved show. Once more, if you want to see these photos up close, click on the picture, it will enlarge.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ~Love, Susan