Review: Dusting Off Memories of One's First Love, BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN at Sejong M Theater

After its try-out performance in 2010 at the Daegu International Musical Festival, BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN made its stage premiere in 2012. In 2013, it came back for a second production. Until this year, BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN was a musical that countless South Korean theatergoers yearned to see again. As a response to the fans of this musical, DAL Company and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts came together to revive BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN in 2018. When the news that BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN is going to come back on stage this year spread, this musical became the most anticipated original musical revival of this year.

For Korean audiences, the title of this musical will be familiar. BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN is a musical adaptation of a movie of the same title starring Lee Byung-hun and Lee Eun-ju, which was released in 2001. Illustrating love that overcomes time, place, and even death, BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN shows In-woo falling in love at first sight with Tae-hee when she runs into In-woo on a rainy day and asks if she could borrow his umbrella. The two start dating, but on the day In-woo leaves for his military service, Tae-hee does not show up to see In-woo off, even though she promised In-woo that she will come and asked him to wait for her if she comes too late. Seventeen years later, In-woo, now a high-school Korean teacher, is respected by his students for his kindness and love toward his students. But In-woo starts to have a strange feeling toward Hyun-bin, a student in his homeroom class. Soon, they find out that Hyun-bin is the reincarnation of Tae-hee and realizes that they are soulmates.

The concept of reincarnation adds a slightly mysterious mood to the show. When In-woo first has a flashback memory of Tae-hee when he sees Hyun-bin, he does not understand what this feeling means. However, he comes to the realization that whatever gender Tae-hee is, he will still love Tae-hee as the person Tae-hee is currently. With In-woo's narration at the end, BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN connotes that love is something that gender, time, or even death cannot separate.

The sentimental and dreamy mood of the musical is enhanced by the beautiful musical numbers. The music for this show is composed by Will Aronson, and the lyrics are written by Hue Park - or the 'WillHue Combination', as South Korean theater lovers call them. They are well known for creating the music and the lyrics for BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN, WHAT I LEARNED FROM PEOPLE, and other upcoming shows. Instead of using overwhelmingly high notes or dramatic features, the numbers in this musical are calm and have a poetic taste added, which makes the melody of the numbers linger in the audiences' ears after the show ends. Each number has its unique emotion which helps the audience understand the characters. Also, in the movie BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN, Shostakovich's Waltz No. 2 is used as an important theme when In-woo and Tae-hee waltz together. For the stage adaptation, the audience gets to hear an original waltz track when In-woo and Tae-hee meet again, which makes the scene as mesmerizing and exquisite as the scene in the movie.

BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN uses quick scene changes to show In-woo's past with Tae-hee in a flashback sequence. Props such as glasses or books and lighting, along with scenic designs are effectively used to show the change of time and space between scenes. The audience goes from In-woo's present homeroom class to his past with Tae-hee and his other friends in an instant. The music and the choreography between scene changes catch the eyes of the audience and add to the delicate atmosphere of the show.

This musical that depicts memories of first love and the enchanting theme of reincarnation can be visited until August 26th, 2018. For more information and to buy tickets, visit ticket.interpark.com/Global/ or www.sejongpac.or.kr/eng/. The casting schedule is different every day, so make sure to check the casting schedule prior to buying tickets.

BUNGEE JUMPING OF THEIR OWN at Sejong M Theater

Photo Credit: DAL Company

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