Thespian celebrates 60 years of acting
81-year-old actor Lee Soon-jae stars in ‘Death of Salesman’
Veteran actor Lee Soon-jae represents a living history of modern Korean entertainment, covering both the small and big screens as well as the stage. Still active, the 81-year-old actor celebrates the 60th anniversary of his debut before an audience in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” starting later this month.
“I almost don’t have the concept of counting the number of years. Acting is continuous work and when you take part in a long-running television series, a year passes by and you really don’t celebrate anniversaries,” Lee said at a press conference Monday. “I’ve been just acting for 60 years and people around me urged me to do this commemoration. I am grateful for all those involved in this memorial project.”
Lee first took the role of Willy Loman in “Death of a Salesman” in 1978 when he was in his 50s. “Maybe I didn’t understand Willy fully back then. This production aims to be faithful to the original text,” the actor said.
“Death of a Salesman” revolves around an old travelling salesman Willy and his family and how their ideal life clashes with reality. The 1949 play, known for its keen criticism of capitalism, still resonates with contemporary audiences and has been staged in Korea numerous times, but many of them were dramatized to better suit Korean sentiments.
Director Park Byung-soo said this production is not abridged, reflecting their attempt to remain as true to the original as possible.
The director added that he wants to emphasize the passing of something down to the next generation rather than a person crushed by brutal capitalism.
“I think one of the most important lines in the play is Willy saying ‘I’ve got to get some seeds. I’ve got to get some seeds, right away. Nothing’s planted. I don’t have a thing in the ground.’ It reminds us how desperately Willy wanted to bequeath something to his sons. I wanted to portray the warmth of Willy’s paternal love in this production,” Park said.
The actors playing Willy’s sons Biff and Happy are students of Lee who learned acting from the venerable actor. Lee still teaches acting, holding workshops with students almost every night.
Kim Ki-moo, who alternates playing the eldest son Biff, said Lee is his first acting teacher. He began working with Lee 10 years ago. “He told me to hold out as I could do any- thing except for prince-like characters. I endured the times and finally I am able to be share the stage with Lee,” Kim said.
In spite of his advanced years, Lee’s acting is ongoing. After finishing “Death of a Salesman,” a film and a television drama are scheduled for next year and he wants to participate in a play if the time is right.
“One has to be resolutely determined to enter the world of acting. You can establish yourself in acting, but it is neither completing something nor standing on a top spot. There is no perfection in acting and it makes acting worthwhile — we have the desire for something new and accept the challenge,” Lee said.
The play is on a limited run from Dec. 13 to 22 at Arko Arts Theater in Daehangno, Seoul. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call 010-9053-1612.