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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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 Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:44 am Post subject: Miso a big hit at Chongdong Theater in Seoul |
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http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110302000752
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�Miso,� translated as �beautiful smile,� is the theater�s original performance which offers a compact presentation of everything Korean culture first-timers could wish for. It blends ten different kinds of traditional dances, five traditional games and a wedding ritual into the main story line based on a well-known folktale, �The Tale of Chunhyang.�
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More than 650,000 have watched the show in the last 14 years. It has been very popular especially among foreigners ― last year, 77 percent of the 79,640 visitors were non-Koreans. The show was performed overseas numerous times as well.
In response to the enthusiastic response, Chongdong Theater was dedicated to exclusively staging �Miso� last year. A similar theater will open in Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province in July.
The show has been refined and polished over the years, to make it more Korean and foreigner-friendly. It added a traditional Korean vibe to the details as much as possible, like having the staff decked in hanbok carry �cheongsachorong,� or a traditional Korean lantern with a red and blue silk shade, when guiding the visitors to their seats, for instance.
There are very few spoken lines throughout the whole performance, taking into account its audience of such diverse nationalities. Instead, actors hold up signs written in five different languages ― Korean, English, Japanese, Cantonese and Mandarin ― at crucial moments in the story.
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�Miso� is showing as an open run at Chongdong Theater in Jeong-dong, central Seoul. Shows are held at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. everyday except for Monday. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-1500 or visit www.koreamiso.com.
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Cedar
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Location: In front of my computer, again.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:03 am Post subject: |
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I've watched it. I think it's average at best. The performers are not top notch, the 'story' is just a device to bring it all together, not an actual story... Personally I think that piece in the Herald was the kind that should be called an advertisement, not a news article.
Oh, and just to clarify, traditional performance is my area of expertise. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm just posting some things to do in Seoul for those who want to do something other than sit on a barstool 24/7. The Herald article explains the musical, shows pictures, explains where it is in Seoul, and displays the price of tickets. Cedar, you don't think it's worth seeing then thanks for the warning. |
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furtakk
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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| I have friends coming and I was gonna see this or Nanta. Can anyone recommend one over the other? |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Nanta was really good, and I'm one of those guys who'd rather sit on the barstool 24/7 than get dragged to a musical performance. I have not, and probably will not, see Miso, though. |
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Caffeinated
Joined: 11 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Unfortunate title, though. The first two things that come to mind are miso the food and "Me so horny." |
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SMOE NSET
Joined: 25 Feb 2010
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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Out of the three mainstream Korean performances, I personally prefer Jump.
Nanta: This seemed a little too much like a food version of Stomp. I prefer Stomp if I had to choose.
Miso: I liked it as it had all of the traditional Korean things smashed into one place. I agree the story was just a reason to put everything together. The only big issue I had was the other patrons (Chinese) talked through most of the beginning and it was a big group of them. They were finally told to be quiet but it ruined the atmosphere.
Jump: I enjoyed this the most. Entertaining story and crazy martial arts. I am a guy though but my sister really enjoyed the show too when she visited.
I recommend seeing all of them though to make up your own mind and each day they have different actors. Obviously, some actors/actresses are better than others and can really add or damage the atmosphere. |
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Triban
Joined: 14 Jul 2009
Location: Suwon Station
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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| sojusucks wrote: |
| I'm just posting some things to do in Seoul for those who want to do something other than sit on a barstool 24/7. The Herald article explains the musical, shows pictures, explains where it is in Seoul, and displays the price of tickets. Cedar, you don't think it's worth seeing then thanks for the warning. |
I do everything you post...
...
...
....We should be friends. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| furtakk wrote: |
| I have friends coming and I was gonna see this or Nanta. Can anyone recommend one over the other? |
You can't lose with Nanta. Just make sure you get a discount. They offer many discounts. You can book your tickets by email, too. I've done it and everything was fine.
http://www.korea4expats.com//events-in-korea-NANTA-March-Discount-1-31-Mar-2011-Seoul-4346.html
If you have a choice get seats on the aisle 3-6 rows back from the front. That'll give someone in your party a good chance of being chosen to go up on stage. Maybe I've said too much-lol. |
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Jane
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:32 am Post subject: |
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| SMOE NSET wrote: |
Out of the three mainstream Korean performances, I personally prefer Jump.
Nanta: This seemed a little too much like a food version of Stomp. I prefer Stomp if I had to choose.
Miso: I liked it as it had all of the traditional Korean things smashed into one place. I agree the story was just a reason to put everything together. The only big issue I had was the other patrons (Chinese) talked through most of the beginning and it was a big group of them. They were finally told to be quiet but it ruined the atmosphere.
Jump: I enjoyed this the most. Entertaining story and crazy martial arts. I am a guy though but my sister really enjoyed the show too when she visited.
I recommend seeing all of them though to make up your own mind and each day they have different actors. Obviously, some actors/actresses are better than others and can really add or damage the atmosphere. |
I have to agree with the SMOE.
I've seen all three, and pick Jump as the best overall entertaining show. |
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Cedar
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Location: In front of my computer, again.
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 8:15 am Post subject: |
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JUMP is heads over Nanta. However, if you really have guests coming, I could recommend much better shows (and usually cheaper) that are more "traditional" than any of the three shows discussed here. The kind of shows that only happen one or two nights. PM me if you need any suggestions with the date range you have in mind.
And why -anyone- would go halfway around the world and then sit on a barstool when Korea is so gobsmacking full of interesting stuff to do is completely beyond me. |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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I've often mulled about what to do when family/friends come from back home to visit, to be honest- Nanta, JUMP, and Miso never even broached consideration. I'm more of a museum guy, take a walk during the day, go to a nice restaurant, then head back home and rest 
Slightly curious about seeing JUMP. But China/Japan seem to have the historical dance/show market in full force. Being from NYC, the 'shows' they have here are quite pitiful IMO |
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SMOE NSET
Joined: 25 Feb 2010
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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I would recommend the Folk Village in Yongin over the Miso performance but it is a bit far and time consuming. Just make sure you go during the performance times.
I went to the Kung Fu show in Beijing and I definitely preferred JUMP. I almost fell asleep in the Kung Fu show. It just dragged on and on. I noticed many other guests passed out about three quarters of the way through.
Cedar- I agree with you on sitting on the bar stool bit. It is fun to do after you have done the shows though, to discuss them or try and get them out of your head. |
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Cedar
Joined: 11 Mar 2003
Location: In front of my computer, again.
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:28 am Post subject: |
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| The idea that the shows in Korea are lame compared to whatever China/Japan/NYC have to offer makes my blood boil. Either you've been taken to stuff designed for tourists (Nanta, Jump, Miso, Folk Village shows) (yes, Koreans are tourists, too), or you've not seen much. There are amazing shows here that will knock your socks off, but not if you're looking for a Korean version of CATS or Korean Kabuki. Go see some real Korean performance, something with heart, that's original (not trying to be CATS or Kabuki), presented by people who love what they're doing (not just going through the motions). Seriously, I'm gritting my teeth as I type. |
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balzor
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 4:11 am Post subject: |
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| I saw it last year and really enjoyed it. the music and acting were good. the fact that there are few words spoken but i understood all the emotions and intentions of the characters made it memorable for me. |
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