Paradise for musical fans

Lovers of show tunes are in for a treat as a joint production starting this weekend in Seoul promises more than 20 classic numbers in one show.

“A Night at the Paradise” features songs from “Rent,” “Wicked” and other musicals performed by a cast of 27 assembled by Seoul Players and Fall From Grace.

The script for the musical was written by Don Johnson. Although he has been involved in musical productions for about 30 years both here and in his native Canada, it has mainly been on the music side, and this is the first he has written. He has written short plays and sketches before, but he says he is proud of his first full production.

He said he was initially nervous but his fears were unfounded.

“Everyone in the test audiences have been laughing in the right places. I’m really happy with it.”

The plot follows a central character, Owen Morgan, who is the manager of a historic theater called The Paradise. Morgan is about to leave the theater for good, but as he hands over management to his successor he reminisces on his career, with the musical numbers depicting episodes during his time there.

To tell the story, the stage is split into a small alcove to the left where Morgan has his office, and the main area representing the musical theater’s stage.

“Any time there is dialogue, and things that are happening in the present, that’s where it takes  place, the things that are happening in his memories take place on the main stage,” Jessica Adel, who is a cast member and does the show’s public relations, explained.

“And there are times when it blurs … toward the end of the piece where the main stage is pulled into the present and so the two worlds of where the stage is set up are merged.”

Expat theater has grown in recent years but musical productions are still fairly rare.

“It’s been a really intensive process just musically, and then you add on all of the character work and the acting and all of the choreography that goes into it, there’s a lot to think about when you’re doing musical theater.”

For this production, there were also a lot of costumes.

Adel explained that they tried  to keep the look true to each performance, so the costumes for “Mein Herr” from Cabaret, seen in the promotional photos, were different to those for numbers from “Chicago” and “The Producers.”

Lots of costumes, means lots of costume changes, and she said that was also something they had to get down to a fine art.

“I have one section where I have a part in one piece and I literally have 40  seconds to do a complete head to toe transformation — wigs and glasses and jacket and pants and shirt, right down to a completely different look for the next piece. … It’s down to the point where the beat to the next song is starting and I’m literally buckling up my second shoe.”

But both Adel and Johnson said that preparations had gone surprisingly well, and that the atmosphere amongst the cast and crew was one of excitement.

“I think everybody involved has the sense that they’re a part of something special for this community,” said Adel. “Everyone has a feeling that when audiences come to the show they’re going to be surprised with the level of professionalism that they’re given.

“I feel really good about the show. It’s nice to be in this place in the week that you’re opening and know that you’re ready,” Adel added.

“There’s no sense of nerves.” Johnson shared the enthusiasm.

“There’s a feeling of anticipation that’s like nervousness but not nervousness,” said Johnson. “It’s a good feeling.”

“A Night at the Paradise” runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as Oct. 19 and 20 at Spazio Luce in Itaewon. Friday shows are at 9 p.m., Saturday shows are at 8 p.m. and the Sunday show is at 4 p.m.

Tickets are 20,000 won in advance or 25,000 won at the door, and can be reserved via www.nightattheparadise.org or nightattheparadise@gmail.com.

To get to the venue, leave Itaewon Station Exit 2 and walk straight. Spazio Luce is on the left roughly opposite Rocky Mountain Tavern.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)