A Belly-Dancing Scarecrow
A signature production celebrating the 30th anniversary of Theatre Troupe Arirang
- Dates
- Oct 20 – 23, 2016
- Venue
- Guro Arts Valley Theater
- Original Work
- Lee Cheong-jun
- Playwright & Director
- Kim Myung-gon
- Associate Director
- Lee Seong-ho
- Music
- Jung Won-gi
- Choreography
- Lee Jeong-yun
- Staff
- Scenic Design: Lim Min / Lighting Design: Namgung Jin / Props Design: Park Hyeon-i / Stage Manager: Kwon Sun-jae / Costume Design: Kim Han-bit / Makeup: Kim So-hui / Assistant Director: Choi Yun-jeong / Graphic Design: Kang Ji-u / Photography: Choi Yong-seok, Kim Sol / Video: Cho Dae-wan / Producers: Kim Hyo-sang, Bae Sae-am, Lim Tae-rin / PR & Marketing: Ryu Hye-jeong
- Show times
- Weekdays 20:00, Weekends 15:00
- Tickets
- R Seats ₩30,000, S Seats ₩20,000
- Presented by
- Guro Cultural Foundation, Theatre Troupe Arirang
- Production Partner
- Sun Art Company
- Sponsors
- Guro-gu, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, Arts Council Korea
- Enquiries
- 02-2029-1722
About the Play
Adapted from the novel Mr. Cho Man-deuk by the late Lee Cheong-jun, one of modern Korea’s literary titans, A Belly-Dancing Scarecrow swept three major prizes at the 1995 Seoul Theatre Festival—Best Play, Best Director, and Best Acting—proving both its artistic merit and box-office appeal. The original novella is celebrated for its deep literary value, having been featured in Korean textbooks and national college entrance mock examinations.
Marking the 30th anniversary of Theatre Troupe Arirang, the production returns to the stage written and directed by Kim Myung-gon—a founding member, the troupe’s leader for its first decade, and former Minister of Culture and Tourism.
Key Highlights
A Modern Cho Man-deuk Brought to Life by Multitalented Director Kim Myung-gon Mr. Cho Man-deuk, a poignant novel by the late Lee Cheong-jun (author of Seopyeonje), is revitalized for the stage. Experience A Belly-Dancing Scarecrow through the visionary direction of Kim Myung-gon, founding member and former leader of Theatre Troupe Arirang.
A Celebrated Masterpiece Crowned at the Seoul Theatre Festival Relive the critically acclaimed production that swept Best Play, Best Director, and Best Acting at the 1995 Seoul Theatre Festival, achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success.
A Stage Adaptation of a Literary Classic This adaptation translates Lee Cheong-jun’s celebrated novella—a cornerstone of Korean literature recognized even in secondary education curricula—into a vivid theatrical experience.
Synopsis
Cho Man-deuk works as a barber in a small shop on the outskirts of Seoul. Burdened by an elderly mother with dementia, an abusive younger brother constantly demanding money, and an unfaithful wife, Man-deuk sinks into grand delusions and is eventually committed to a psychiatric hospital.
Believing the hospital to be a luxury nursing retreat, Man-deuk addresses himself as “Chairman” and writes out blank checks to his fellow patients. It is only inside this delusion that he finds any semblance of happiness. However, his attending physician, Dr. Min, strives to cure him by stripping away his fantasies and returning him to reality.
Eventually awakened from his delusions, Man-deuk is forced to confront the harsh reality of his life. But what awaits him is…
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