Victor Hugo’s play to get Korean premiere

French author Victor Hugo is best known for “Les Miserables,” a literary masterpiece that has been adapted into various forms including a film and a stage musical.

What is little known here is that he wrote a series of extremely enjoyable plays that defy many conventional rules of a theater play.

One such work will get its first Korean premiere this week by the award-winning original French production.

The Theatre National de Toulouse production of “Mille Francs de recompense (A Reward of 1,000 Francs)” will be staged at Seongnam Arts Center from Oct. 25-26. 

Just in time for the premiere, the book, the first Korean translation of a Hugo play, also hits local shelves.

“It is the first time that we are taking this production outside France,” said director Laurent Pelly at a news conference in Seoul Thursday. 

“It’s been two years since we last staged it. Rehearsing for the Korean performances, I felt once again how great this play is and how strong a message it throws us,” he said.

Set in Paris in 1820, the play is the story of Glapieu, a protagonist very similar to Jean Valjean of “Les Mis” in that he is courageous, has a big heart, is chased by police, and yet, stands for justice.

“Hugo wrote this piece for the masses. He made it not serious, but with a serious message,” Pelly said.

Although some damage to the original production may be inevitable, because of translation (the play will be in French, with Korean subtitles), the Frenchman hoped that Korean audiences would find it just as enjoyable and fascinating as his compatriots did.

The production had more than 100 performances in France in 2012, winning both public and critical acclaim. It won the year’s best director and best stage design awards.

“Mille Francs de recompense” will be staged at Seongnam Arts Center on Oct. 25 and 26. Ticket prices run from 10,000 to 110,000 won. For more information, call (031) 783-8000 or visit www.snart.or.kr.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)