Cha In-pyo and Yeon Jung-hoon to take the stage in the play 'Dead Poets Society'

Actors Cha In-pyo and Yeon Jung-hoon will team up on the theatrical stage. At the press call for the play 'Dead Poets Society' held on the afternoon of the 21st at the NOL Theater Daehakro Woori Card Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the cast including Cha In-pyo, Oh Man-seok, and Yeon Jung-hoon, along with Nam Kyung-eup and Park Ji-il, director Cho Kwang-hwa, and music director Lee Dong-jun, were in attendance.

Based on the screenplay of the same name by Tom Schulman, this production is the first official licensed production in Korea. Set in 1959 at Welton Academy, a prestigious boarding school in New England, USA, the play depicts the changes that occur when a newly appointed English teacher, John Keating, delivers the message of 'Carpe Diem (Seize the day)' to his students amidst strict discipline that enforces entrance exams and success.

Three Keatings to Show Different Life Lessons

The core character of the work, John Charles Keating, will be played by Oh Man-seok, Cha In-pyo, and Yeon Jung-hoon, who will appear on stage through triple casting. Oh Man-seok mentioned the different charms of the three actors. He said, "Looking at Yeon Jung-hoon's face alone, you can feel his tenderness, and Cha In-pyo focuses on the students so much that he says they are pretty throughout rehearsals and buys them meals once or twice a week. I am trying to create a fun atmosphere somewhere in the middle."

Cha In-pyo, taking on his first theatrical challenge, mentioned the gap between his actual age and the character. He stated, "The Mr. Keating in the original work is in his early 30s, but I am actually 59 years old. I could feel the original work's words—that life is a beautiful poem written by each individual—in my very skin," and added, "I want to view the students as colleagues living through the world together regardless of age, and awaken their desire to break free from any mold."

Yeon Jung-hoon expressed his feelings about taking on the role of the youngest for the first time in about 10 years. He added, "It is my first time challenging theater and my first experience being triple-cast for a single role. Because the three Keatings are so different, that is actually a strength. You must watch at least three times to feel the different aspects of each teacher." He continued, "I think this moment shared with many audience members will occupy a part of my acting career."

A Stage Containing Insights into Humanity Beyond Education

Director Cho Kwang-hwa made it clear that this work is not buried in criticizing the specific educational reality of Korea. Director Cho explained, "I did not create this while thinking about the educational reality of South Korea. I tell the stories that attract me. Rather than dealing with specific educational realities, I wanted to tell a universal story of people who are just beginning to learn about the world." Regarding the adjustment of the running time, he stated, "It's not that we added scenes, but since it was going to exceed two hours to maintain the flow, we worked hard to reduce it."

The performances of Nam Kyung-eup and Park Ji-il, who play Mr. Nolan and Mr. Perry, will also follow. Nam Kyung-eup reported, "I acted to the best of my ability," and Park Ji-il said, "Society and values are on the same line as the education of that era. Rather than delivering a message limited to education, this work contains insights into human society and humanity." Playing two roles, he plans to express the hidden sides of characters who maintain existing values while showing violent and oppressive sides to students.

During the press call, key scenes from the play were demonstrated. A scene was staged where John Keating climbs onto the teacher's desk to teach students how to see the world differently. It is a scene where he tells them to reject doctrines or schools of thought like Whitman's poetry and to find their own language by shouting to the world with their own nature. At this moment, Todd is inspired and begins writing poetry in his notebook.

The confession scene of the student Knox also followed. Despite his friends' dissuasion, Knox goes to find Chris with a love poem he wrote himself and wildflowers. As Knox recites his poem and confesses his love in the middle of the school hallway and classroom, Chris shows a worried side by handing a handkerchief to him as he bleeds from his nose. Knox accepts even that small kindness as hope and is swept away by excitement.

The Value of Life Moving Forward by Breaking the Mold

Cha In-pyo defined the essence of education as, "Education is helping each person realize how to live the life they want to live. 'True education' is realizing what to protect and what to ask permission for."

Yeon Jung-hoon, touching upon the meaning of the message 'Carpe Diem' in the play, added, "The 'Carpe Diem' we are talking about is not YOLO."