The Korean original musical 'Frankenstein' has been mesmerizing audiences since its 2014 premiere in Seoul, offering a fresh take on Mary Shelley's classic 1818 novel 'Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.' Written and directed by Wang Yong-beom, this theatrical production has gained widespread recognition for its compelling storyline, magnificent orchestral music, and breathtaking visual elements.
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Europe, the musical follows Victor Frankenstein, portrayed by Cho Kyu-hyun, a scientist driven by an obsession to create an immortal soldier. This adaptation presents Victor as a deeply troubled character whose childhood fascination with bringing life back to the dead transforms into a dangerous fixation after his failed attempt to resurrect his deceased mother.
The musical takes a dramatic departure from Shelley's original story in several key ways. Rather than using anonymous corpses, Victor constructs his monster using the head of his closest friend and research partner, Henri, played by Park Eun-tae. The tragic sequence unfolds when Victor accidentally commits murder, prompting the devoted Henri to accept responsibility for the crime to protect his friend's scientific work, ultimately leading to Henri's execution. Victor then uses Henri's severed head to complete his gruesome experiment, creating a creature that bears his friend's familiar face but possesses neither language skills nor moral understanding.
One of the production's most intriguing artistic choices involves the use of dual roles, where lead actors perform as two completely different characters throughout the show. Director Wang explained that this creative decision serves to illustrate how human societies, regardless of their historical period or geographical location, often share remarkably similar characteristics and flaws.
The musical has achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success, earning regular revivals that have established it as a cornerstone of Korean original musical theater, standing alongside other celebrated productions such as 'The Last Empress' and 'The Man Who Laughs.' Its impact has extended beyond Korea's borders, with a licensed Japanese production that made its Tokyo debut in 2017, demonstrating the universal appeal of its themes and storytelling.
Production company EMK invested an entire year in transforming a live performance from the musical's 10th anniversary run into the feature film 'Frankenstein: The Musical Live.' This ambitious project represents part of the company's ongoing mission to expand the musical theater audience and reflects a growing industry movement toward bringing live stage productions to cinema screens to reach broader audiences.
Musical theater still faces certain accessibility challenges for newcomers, including expensive ticket prices and the difficulty of following lyrics during musical numbers. Cinematic adaptations of stage musicals address these barriers effectively by combining the raw energy and excitement of live theater with the intimate, close-up perspective that only film can provide.
The film version of 'Frankenstein' exemplifies the tremendous potential of this format. It captures actors' nuanced facial expressions through detailed close-up shots while ensuring that every lyric is both crystal clear in the audio mix and displayed as subtitles on screen for complete comprehension. Long-time fans of the original stage production will find exceptional value in this cinematic adaptation, as the sophisticated camera work reveals subtle performance details and acting nuances that would typically be lost due to theater seating distance, offering an more intimate viewing experience of performances they already cherish.
To maintain the authentic atmosphere of the live theatrical experience, audience applause and reactions have been preserved throughout the 179-minute film, which includes one intermission period just as theatergoers would experience. 'Frankenstein: The Musical Live' is scheduled for release next Thursday, promising to introduce this acclaimed Korean musical to an entirely new audience while satisfying existing fans with unprecedented access to the production's finest details.
