Lighting Love in a Black-and-White World: Director Kim Tae-hyung’s Musical 'Almond'
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Director Kim Tae-hyung, a prominent and prolific South Korean theater and musical director, discusses his musical adaptation of 'Almond.' The protagonist, Yun-jae, is born with an amygdala-shaped anomaly leading to alexithymia (감정표현불능증), meaning he has very limited emotional range rather than no feelings. Kim emphasizes nuanced acting—no robotic portrayals—and asks actors to show delayed but real responses. Family—especially Yun-jae’s mother and grandmother—serves as the emotional gateway for him to learn feelings. The production uses symbolic devices, like a red pack of tissues that introduces color to Yun-jae’s black-and-white perception, and shifts perspective from how others see Yun-jae in Act 1 to his interior world in Act 2. A controversial kiss scene signals Yun-jae’s internal change rather than a simple instinct. Ultimately, Kim says the musical’s core message is love: affection can bring color to even those who struggle to feel.
