‘Life of Pi’ Stage Play: Actor Park Kang-hyun Finds Renewed Faith in Challenging Role
Creatrip Team
7 months ago
The stage adaptation of Life of Pi, running through March 2 at GS Art Center in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, continues to earn praise for its faithful storytelling, strong performances and vivid puppetry. The play follows young Pi’s 227-day survival at sea with a Bengal tiger, Richard Parker, and juxtaposes a fantastical animal tale with a darker human-survival account. Lead actor Park Kang-hyun says he chooses to believe the more magical version and that the role helped him restore a personal sense of faith worn down by years in the industry. Park, who debuted in 2015 and rose to fame after finishing second on Phantom Singer 2 (a Korean TV singing contest), has built his career on originating major roles; this production is his first straight play in eight years and demands heavy emotional and physical stamina. He praises the production’s “puppet” (puppetry device) as its greatest virtue, noting the magical moments when the puppet seems to be alive. Park plans to keep exploring new challenges, including group activities with Miracle Class (a group formed after Phantom Singer 2) and upcoming musicals.
