“What drives me to be on stage? There’s nothing to be curious about. I do it because it’s enjoyable and rewarding. As I get older, my body doesn’t always follow my will, and despite my efforts, I can’t beat time. However, I still have some strength left, and I use that as my fuel to participate.” (Actor Shin Goo)
Age is just a number, and health constraints are no match for these two acting legends. Driven by the joy of acting and a desire to support the future of young actors, Shin Goo and Park Geun-hyung are delivering a deeply moving performance in “The Merchant of Venice” through their enduring passion for the craft.
Based on Shakespeare’s representative comedy, “The Merchant of Venice” focuses on the clash between law and mercy, revenge and choice. While maintaining the classic structure, it is reconstructed to sharpen the emotions and conflicts between characters. Described as a “courtroom drama that starts as a comedy and ends with a tragic question,” the play aims to provide modern empathy and reflection through Director Oh Kyung-taek’s rhythmic language and dense psychological portrayal.
Director Oh Kyung-taek explained, “‘The Merchant of Venice’ is often called a comedy, but in modern times, it’s classified as a problem play. It wears the face of a comedy but contains tragic content. Shylock is a character who harbors revenge due to discrimination and hatred against Jews. In the past, Shylock’s act of trying to take Antonio’s life was seen as cruel and violent, labeling him a villain in a simple ‘good vs. evil’ dichotomy. But from a contemporary perspective, I wondered if it’s truly a comedy to see Shylock, who is discriminated against simply for being born Jewish, as purely evil. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a classic that asks heavy questions about what ‘mercy’ and ‘justice’ really are.”
“Conflicts and hatred still occur frequently across the globe,” Director Oh continued, adding, “‘The Merchant of Venice’ asks how we view fairness when someone has no choice in their circumstances. I adapted the script myself. While keeping the original structure centered on Shylock and his daughter Jessica, I strengthened Shylock’s human side and the motives that led him to become who he is. You can expect a character that evokes more empathy and pity than the Shylocks usually seen in plays or movies.”
While Director Oh noted that Shylock cannot be seen as purely good or evil, perspectives on “anti-Jewish discrimination” vary in the current era. Defining Shylock as “both a victim and a perpetrator,” Director Oh stated, “I believe all humans are like that. We cannot be divided into good and evil, and fairness inevitably changes depending on the situation or the choices made. I wanted to talk about ‘selective fairness.’ Every character in this work possesses duality and ambivalence, meaning complexity. A diverse group of people experiencing emotions and desires is captured here. Rather than providing an answer, I wanted to pose the questions ‘What is justice?’ and ‘What is fair?’ Personally, I love plays that make the audience ponder things outside the theater based on the situation on stage. My directorial vision is for the audience to enjoy ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and leave with a question in their hearts.”
Shin Goo, the oldest active actor, is fueling his passion for acting in “The Merchant of Venice” following “The French Safe.” Born in 1936 and now 91 years old, Shin Goo was diagnosed with heart failure in 2022 and underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker. Despite having an artificial pacemaker in his chest, he is delivering a touching performance on stage.
Proving once again that he is an “actor” before being “in his 90s,” Shin Goo addressed health concerns, saying, “I am performing with a theater company that seeks me out. I’ve done many works, and this time, I participated because I love it and wanted to be of some help.” He added, “As I age, my body doesn’t always do as I want, so I’m making my own efforts. Fortunately, the movements for the judge’s role aren’t extensive. I love rehearsing and putting on a show with colleagues I admire. I’m approaching this by convincing myself that this is what I am meant to do.”
Though his vision, hearing, and stamina aren’t what they used to be, nothing could stop Shin Goo’s sincerity toward acting. When asked about his driving force, he calmly replied, “There’s nothing to be curious about. I do it because it’s enjoyable and rewarding.” He expressed his wish to “continue participating as long as I have strength left, even if I cannot beat time.”
Park Geun-hyung, who played Shylock during his time at Chung-Ang University’s Department of Theater and Film, returns to the same role after about 67 years. Recalling his youth, he said, “Over 60 years have passed. While I expressed things as my heart led me as a student, now I am focusing on how to express Shylock as a true actor and artist. I am preparing hard so I can present it with confidence.”
Han Se-ra shared her feelings about working with the legendary seniors, saying, “My whole family was thrilled at the news of me performing with these two teachers. My parents and colleagues are so interested that I already feel like I’ve gained so much.” She added, “At first, I thought it was a satisfying ending, but seeing Teacher Park Geun-hyung’s Shylock, I unconsciously felt pity. It’s a play that richly captures the ambivalent side of humans, being hated yet pitiful. There’s so much to see that it won’t be boring even if you watch it multiple times.”
Lee Seung-ju and Kai are cast as “Antonio,” the merchant of Venice who risks his life for a friend, deeply portraying loneliness and friendship. Choi Soo-young and Won Jin-ah are cast as “Portia,” who changes the flow of the court with her wisdom.
The stage is completed with Han Se-ra as Portia’s assistant “Nerissa,” Lee Won-seung as Shylock’s friend “Tubal,” Park Min-kwan as Antonio’s friend “Salarino,” Jo Han-jun as “Solanio,” Lee Ji-su as the “Prince of Morocco,” and Lee Jong-young as the “Prince of Arragon.”
Lee Seung-ju said, “It’s an honor to work on a classic play, especially with these two teachers. Antonio is a character with a more complex inner self than Hamlet, so I thought a lot about how to convey him clearly yet ambiguously. I believe the power of this play, which asks questions about life outside the stage through the story on stage, will be well-delivered to the audience.”
Notably, the ensemble members (Park Seung-jae, Eom Hyun-soo, Kim Yun-ji, Lee Jun-il, Ju Hong) were selected through the “Tomorrow Theater Project.” These rookies, selected through a fund created by the donation performances of Shin Goo and Park Geun-hyung, have the opportunity to learn live acting while working with the two masters.
Regarding the reason for continuing the project, the two masters emphasized, “The result of pondering how to give back the love and cheers we received on stage was creating an environment for struggling young actors. We hope young people can enjoy the teachings and benefits we craved when we first started and remain active. If they understand the basics of traditional theater and apply them, they will grow into better artists.”
Meanwhile, the play “The Merchant of Venice” will run from July 8 to August 9 at the National Theater of Korea’s Haeoreum Theater.
