Chapter 80:

Chapter 80:

Chapter 80

The Korean Theater Festival.

A crowd of people is waiting to enter the theater, forming a sea of humanity.

It is rare to see so many audience members for a theatrical performance.

It shows how much the publics interest in the Korean Theater Festival has increased.

Senior, was theater always such a popular industry that attracted so many people?

AD Kim Young-min asks with wide eyes.

Didnt you ever watch a play when you said you wanted to be a drama PD?

No, I did watch a lot when I was in college, but its different from the theater groups in Daehangno. This is the first time Ive seen such a large-scale theater. And look at the people. There are a lot of young people too.

Young-min, dont you read the newspaper?

A newspaper? Who has time to read a newspaper these days? Ive been working like a slave for my senior for the past month. Look at my eyes. My dark circles are so bad, theyre almost reaching my neck.

As Kim Young-min said, there were many young women among the audience. Most of them were fans of Yeong-uk, the British actor.

When they heard that he was participating in the Korean Theater Festival, his fan club bought tickets in bulk and filled the seats.

The actors who were about to perform were more excited than usual because of this response.

After all, whats the point of showing off their outstanding acting skills if theres no audience?

Its the same for every performance. Naturally, the more people there are, the more fun it is.

I came back as a lawyer.

The opening act of the Korean Theater Festival was none other than the play Back to Lawyer by the troupe Gongbyeol.

The cast was composed of veterans who had been through many trials and tribulations on the stage.

The script was too good to be wasted on a play alone.

He had been studying for the judicial exam for a long time in the Noryangjin cram school, but he failed the second round every time.

He finally decided to kill himself. But as he was about to jump off the Mapo Bridge, he got a phone call from his mother in the countryside.

-The exam results havent come out yet. Dont worry. I had a good feeling this time. What did you say? Mom, terminal stomach cancer? What are you talking about!

My mother told me the news that she was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer at the hospital. I, a long-time student, gave up on suicide and went down to the countryside to take care of her in her last days. But I was afraid that she would be shocked if I told her that I failed the exam, so I lied and said that I passed the judicial exam.

-What did you say? You passed the bar exam?

It was supposed to be a lie that I would only tell my mother, but the village head, who was next to my mother in her sickbed, heard the news and threw a lavish feast.

In the end, this is a story of how I, a long-time student, pretended to be a successful lawyer and returned to my hometown in glory.

Not bad.

The famous PD, sitting in the audience, looked at the actor Park Sang-chul, who was playing the role of the long-time student on the stage.

The main reason he came to the Korean Theater Festival was to cast the lead actor, but he also had other roles in mind.

It made sense, since the actors who were already well-known for their historical drama performances had been cast in the special historical drama planned by KBC.

Since it was scheduled at the same time slot, it was rare for the historical drama actors to choose MBS.

In a way, historical dramas go well with theater.

The characteristics of historical dramas made the voice and tone of the general drama actors different.

Not to mention, they had to change their accents as well. Discover new chapters at novelbin(.)com

If they brought the mini-series actors who were focused on modern dramas and filmed historical dramas, they could not erase the sense of incongruity.

On the other hand, the theater actors showed large movements and actions to the audience, which matched the picture of historical dramas.

Its really fun to come here after a long time, senior.

Before he knew it, the one-hour-long play was over.

As the curtain fell, the actors who had been on the stage, with Park Sang-chul at the center, lined up and bowed to the audience in gratitude.

AD Kim Young-min was babbling next to him, but the famous PDs eyes were still on Park Sang-chul.

Bong-chun?

Oh, hes Young-guks manager.

He seems to be a bad guy. Just then, manager Lee Bong-chun runs over to them with his big body. Yangs grandmother is startled by the sudden appearance of the big man, but she recognizes his familiar accent and observes him.

Mother, Im sorry. I had a hard time finding you.

Young-guks mother explains to Yangs grandmother.

Hes from the same hometown as us. He said he was born and raised in Jagalchi.

On the last day of the Korean Theater Festival, there were not only reporters, but also people from the broadcasting industry in the seats.

Not to mention actor Ahn Jung-hyun, who is known as the national actor, actresses Park Soo-young and Seo Min-hye, and actor Song Jung-seok, who is rising as a blue chip in Chungmuro, as well as director Baek Jang-hoon, who is a master.

All the famous people were sitting in one seat, so the reporters and the audience were also slightly excited.

If someone who didnt know saw it, they might mistake it for a movie award ceremony.

Brother, its been a while since you watched a play, isnt it?

Actor Ahn Jung-hyun asks director Baek Jang-hoon, who is sitting next to him, quietly.

Director Baek Jang-hoon nods his wrinkled eyes briefly. In the past, director Baek Jang-hoon also directed plays on the stage before he became a movie director.

Actor Ahn Jung-hyun was the same.

He had been active as a theater actor on the stage until he appeared in commercial movies.

In a way, it was like a hometown, and he couldnt help but feel nostalgic.

I wonder what kind of acting he will show.

Director Baek Jang-hoon scans the stage with his wrinkled eyes.

He was curious how Young-guk would act on the stage. To be honest, he was worried when he said he chose a play for his next work.

After all, theater and movies are different. But he was curious to see Young-guks confident appearance.

He didnt seem nervous at all, even though he was usually modest and humble.

Soon, the theater goes dark as the audience fills up.

The audience murmurs at the sudden blackout, but then they hear a voice.

This story that is about to begin is the story of me, Baek Moo-yeol.

Its Young-guks voice. His voice fills the entire theater in the dark. Its a low-pitched voice with a strong presence.

There was no other reason why I, who was a mere vagabond, spread rumors with countless women and roamed the streets of Gyeongseong. Just as there were those who crossed the Manchurian plains and carried out the independence movement, I also did the same in Gyeongseong.

The audiences eyes widen as they hear the voice. Its a voice that makes them feel like they are in the past.

Is this how you do it?

He takes off his socks as if he is imitating a famous golfer.

Even the caddy cant help but laugh as he fumbles with the club like a beginner. Kim Dae-jin, the chairman, says its okay and shakes his head.

After all, he must think Im cute, a novice. Like this. He holds the club in a crooked posture in the water hazard and hesitates to hit it. Kim Dae-jin, the chairman, and Ahn Jong-man, the head of the secretarys office, turn their eyes away for a moment. Pat! The golf ball makes a crisp sound and escapes from the water hazard, drawing a parabola.

The caddy, Ahn Jong-man, the head of the secretarys office, and even Kim Dae-jin, the chairman, are surprised by the trajectory of the ball.

The golf ball flies gracefully and heads straight for the hole. Kim Dae-jin, the chairman, looks at me in astonishment for a moment. I pretend to be innocent and smile innocently.

Did I do it right?

I did what I could as a rebel fighter in the streets. It was all for the sake of reclaiming Joseons spring.

I swallowed hard.

Even if I disappear like a dewdrop on a blade of grass, Joseons spring will come someday. So please listen to my story that is about to begin. And remember my name. Baek Mu-yeol, the last rebel of Joseon.

The stage that had been darkened suddenly lit up, and the curtain rose.

The stage was now a street in Gyeongseong. Rickshaws were running around, and Japanese people wearing wooden clogs and kimonos were walking.

Among them, there was a modern boy dressed in Western-style clothes.

He was Young-guk, wearing a black suit and a bowler hat.