The Play [Closing One’s Eyes].
Perhaps it is the most talked-about play recently.
On the day of its premiere, it was rare to find anyone walking around University Street who didn’t mention [Closing One’s Eyes].
“Did you watch the variety show? The one with Park Jung-woo and Princess Yeonhwa.”
“Yeah, I did. That’s why I booked tickets.”
A couple was walking and talking like this.
“The Moon That Hid the Sun” was a drama that became a big hit 10 years ago.
“But who is Sooyeon Joo?”
“She’s really pretty. I heard she’s still in high school.”
“Isn’t she the actress who played the young Princess Yeonhwa?”
Not many of the younger generation remembered that, but as word-of-mouth often goes, when older generations start talking a lot, people pay attention.
“Wow, so she met Park Jung-woo by chance on that variety show?”
“Apparently, the eighth episode had a scene where she was criticized for overacting as a child actress. Now they’re reenacting it, which is making a stir.”
“Oh, I see.”
Storytelling.
Nothing introduces an actor better than this.
The so-called “child prodigy” making a comeback after 10 years.
The reaction Park Jung-woo showed to her as a topic actor.
All of these elements converged, heightening curiosity about “Sooyeon Joo” and, by extension, the play “Closing One’s Eyes.”
“Still, she’s more known as ‘Princess Yeonhwa’ rather than ‘Sooyeon Joo’.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely true.”
Two middle-aged men sitting at an outdoor café overheard the younger people’s conversation. There were still about two hours to go before the performance, yet a significant number of people had already gathered.
“Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of reach from an actor.”
“It’ll depend on the person whether this interest will fade or serve as a stepping stone for a bigger takeoff.”
[Retrospection: Looking at the Past]
Initially, the variety show had ratings hovering around 6 percent.
However, with the “Yeonhwa High School” episode, the ratings skyrocketed past 14 percent, reviving a show that was on the decline.
That much of a stir was made, and already on YouTube, several videos discussing “Sooyeon Joo,” “The Moon That Hid the Sun,” and Park Jung-woo were uploaded.
Perhaps the reason this play is generating buzz is because of people like these. How many of them came here truly for the play or for Sooyeon Joo is unclear.
“Director Bae Jin-hwan.”
Lost in thought, the producer Cha Dong-jin who came with him spoke.
“Even so, thanks to you, Director, I’ll get to see this too.”
“If we hadn’t come together, it wouldn’t have been as meaningful, correct?”
Bae Jin-hwan and Cha Dong-jin came to this play with the goal of finding actors.
There was a movie that GH Group was ambitiously preparing, searching for one of the most crucial roles.
This viewing of “Closing One’s Eyes” was part of that search.
“Director, what do you think?”
“You’re talking about Sooyeon Joo, right?”
“Yes. The actress playing ‘Hong Jeong-hee’.”
Originally, they intended to watch “Closing One’s Eyes” irrespective of this issue, with the sole purpose of seeing the performance of the actor who would play the ‘Hong Jeong-hee’ role.
That it turned out to be Seoyeon was coincidental.
“Finding a young actor who can give a bold villain role. Such performers are very rare.”
“Yes. And we haven’t found a suitable actress yet.”
They had already seen several plays, mostly featuring significant villain roles.
As well as dramas and movies.
They hadn’t found any impressive villain performances in the recent media they’d watched.
Maybe auditions are needed.
However, there was also a request from GH Group to cast a well-known actor.
“Indeed, the acting of Sooyeon Joo in the variety show was definitely good, but that’s different from portraying a villain role.”
The saying “there’s no food at a feast” is well known.
Princess Yeonhwa and Hong Jeong-hee are entirely different roles.
It’s uncertain if she can handle the role well.
“Let’s go in. It seems the entrance has started.”
“Oh, yes.”
Watching the queue form, the two slowly stood up as well, not harboring too many expectations.
***
“Is everyone ready?”
Sim Cheong-seok looked at the actors, their nervousness evident. Things had grown much bigger than expected. That much was felt in the size of the audience and their heightened expectations.
[Closing One’s Eyes] was originally a well-known play, but in the end, it was just a romantic comedy, far from qualifying as a “masterpiece.”
“Is it really going to be okay?”
This question came from Lee Hye-jin, who was supposed to play Song Min-seo, originally for the third performance, but the order changed.
[Closing One’s Eyes]’s premiere, the first performance. The reason for the change was self-explanatory.
“Then what will you do if it isn’t okay?”
Sim Cheong-seok chuckled as he spoke; an actor shouldn’t be saying something like that. Normally, one might soothe such concerns but Cheong-seok wasn’t the type for that.
“You’ve been practicing and preparing hard, so you should have confidence.”
“Yes, yes.”
To Lee Hye-jin’s slightly deflated response, Cheong-seok felt a headache coming on.
‘She’s been like this since practice.’
Maybe switching the order of Song Min-seo’s role wasn’t a good idea. That was the degree of his worry.
On the other hand,
‘I wonder what she’s thinking.’
He saw Seoyeon silently closing her eyes. She was really excellent during practice, but it was uncertain how she’d perform in an actual performance.
Seoyeon was still a high school student, at an age where mental burden could easily affect her.
‘But’
He recalled [Retrospection: Looking at the Past]. At that time, the number of students watching her was even larger. To the extent that it aired on TV and YouTube.
So, it’ll be fine. Smirking at Seoyeon, Cheong-sek thought it had been a long time since he’d come across an actress with such engaging performance potential.
He wondered slightly if it would’ve been better if Seoyeon had played Song Min-seo’s role instead.
‘But then it would have failed.’
That was because Hong Jeong-hee’s role had to be filled by Lee Hye-jin. She didn’t have the talent for playing a villain, and Sim Cheong-seok was confident of that.
“Let’s go.”
With some unease, the curtain rose.
***
“Excuse me!”
A sharp shout from Bae Seong-hak rang out.
An annoyed voice mixed with irritation.
He stormed up and grabbed the arm of a woman who had ignored his calls.
“I’ve called you several times! Why didn’t you respond? You dropped something!”
Facing his words with an unperturbed expression, the woman replied,
“I couldn’t hear you.”
Upon hearing this, Bae Seong-hak’s face showed clear confusion, clearly not expecting that her hearing was impaired.
Thus, the first encounter between Bae Seong-hak and Song Min-seo began—an unlikely connection between a popular idol and a hearing-impaired woman, flowing into the play’s narrative.
Song Min-seo’s desire to hear Bae Seong-hak’s idol songs and Bae Seong-hak’s wish to let her hear his voice stimulate the audience.
‘This is my first play, but it’s not bad.’
‘Who’s the actor? He’s very handsome.’
The spectators’ reactions were positive. But they weren’t all pleased.
‘Compared to the male lead’s role, the female protagonist’s presence seems a bit weak.’
‘It’s not just the role; this is… a mistake.’
Anyone with some knowledge would think this. Director Bae Jin-hwan was among them. This sometimes happens at the first performance of a show.
It’s clumsy, with mistakes. Hence, some spectators intentionally avoid the premiere.
‘Hmm.’
As Director Bae Jin-hwan was watching somewhat disappointedly,
“[Ah! Isn’t that Miss Hong Jeong-hee?]”
Bae Seong-hak’s acting tone changed.
“[It’s nice to meet you. You seem to show up at every performance. You’re familiar.]”
It was an ordinary line, yet something felt distinct.
Bae Seong-hak’s originally stellar performance now had a sharper, more biting edge, every movement and gesture becoming more intense.
“[Ah, hello. I-I’m Hong Jeong-hee.]”
The actress who received the line portrayed a timid woman recoiling in fear. The moment she appeared, the atmosphere of the play turned dramatically.
Hong Jeong-hee,
the main antagonist of [Closing One’s Eyes].
“Seoyeon Joo.”
Bae Jin-hwan recognized her instantly the moment she appeared.
“She’s completely different from Princess Yeonhwa.”
He exchanged a glance with Cha Dong-jin beside him. This was the real thing.
They had come here specifically to see her in this play. Would she live up to expectations? Or would she disappoint?
Meanwhile, Act 3 began, the scene where Hong Jeong-hee’s role was most prominent.
***
“Don’t you care about affection anymore?”
Just before the play began, Seoyeon asked Sim Cheong-seok.
“Yes, it seems like we can’t afford to display any lacking acting at this point.”
“Hmm, that makes sense.”
He chuckled slightly as he spoke.
“Affection. Hong Jeong-hee certainly has affection for Seong-hak. That it’s not apparent is a drawback. That’s probably what you’re referring to?”
“Right.”
This was quite a serious issue. It could divert from Seoyeon’s existing interpretation of Hong Jeong-hee’s emotional line, possibly hindering her immersion into the role or understanding it fully.
“You want too much. You’re asking for too much.”
“Me?”
“It’s just a tip.”
He raised his index finger as he spoke.
“Sometimes deception is necessary in acting too.”
“Deception? What do you mean?”
“Affection, it’s required, after all. That’s why Hong Jeong-hee’s actions are for Seong-hak.”
But,
“But what role does Hong Jeong-hee play in this story? She’s the villain.”
Affection showing is fine, but there must be a distinction.
Hong Jeong-hee’s role in the drama,
Even if affection shows, it doesn’t matter much to the audience.
“At least, that’s how I interpret it.”
“…”
“Just avoiding something, aren’t you?”
“The idea that perfection is necessarily the right answer.”
Their conversation hung in the air. Seoyeon slowly opened her closed eyes as Act 3 began.
She could feel numerous eyes on her.
‘I am Hong Jeong-hee.’
Taking a breath, she relaxed her tense body and bent over, adopting the demeanor of Hong Jeong-hee as she interpreted it through her empathy with Ji-woo Pyo.
In this moment, Seoyeon and Hong Jeong-hee became one.
Villain.
Yes, why did she take on this role this time around?
‘The inferiority, the dampness, and the obsession of Hong Jeong-hee.’
She emphasized these traits.
Deception.
As Sim Cheong-seok had suggested, showcasing this deception in its extreme could make the audience eventually seek the reason for Hong Jeong-hee’s actions.
Even without portraying affection, the audience might falsely assume her actions stem from affection.
“Hah.”
From Seoyeon’s or rather Hong Jeong-hee’s lips flowed an eerie laugh.
In that moment, the audience froze. Something was off.
Hong Jeong-hee was giggling low while shrugging her shoulders. As she raised her head, her pale face was visible beneath the dim lights.
Joo Soo-yeon.
Princess Yeon-hwa.
The names that came to mind didn’t fit the atmosphere at all.
The haunting ambiance made it impossible to believe it was the same person.
“Lies.”
The moment Hong Jeong-hee’s monologue began, Director Bae Jin-hwan nearly shot up from his seat.
‘This…’
The actor they had been searching for all along.
The villain who could make his movie shine.
Perhaps he had found the very person right then.
***
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