The Pansori Hamlet Project brings to life Hamlet’s tragedy using traditional pansori narrative singing.
The words, “I am the Prince of Denmark, Hamlet” ring out across the stage at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. Four singers bring to life the inner conflict of Shakespeare’s world-renowned character using Korea's distinctive traditional vocal narrative singing technique, known as pansori.
The Pansori Hamlet Project, currently underway at the center, features four female pansori singers. Not just one, but all of four of them play Hamlet together, as they narrate and sing his story in turn. Most intriguingly, the singers use a heavy Jeolla-do Province dialect for much of their lyrics. They take turns telling of Hamlet’s conflicts, conflicts sparked by the death of his father, his revenge and parting from the woman with whom he has fallen in love.
The way in which each singer expresses through song what goes on in Hamlet's mind -- the man who recites one of the most famous soliloquies, “To be, or not to be, that is the question” -- strikes a chord in the hearts of audiences.
The pansori version of the tragedy sounds lighter than the original, as witty lyrics, bits of dance and the sounds of doleful, enchanting singing ease the heavy mood of the original story, allowing viewers to engage more easily with the tale.
In the show, Hamlet sings “Ghost Song” when he encounters his deceased father. He sings “Song of Determination” as he swears revenge for his father’s death. He also sings away sorrow when he has to break up with his loved one, Ophelia, due to his revenge.
The highlight of the show is when Hamlet sings “Song of Battle” that continues until his last moments. Instead of fighting with swords, Hamlet and Laertes swap songs of revenge in quite a dramatic manner.
“Hamlet is the man who always ponders and thinks deeply whenever he has to make a decision, 'Would this be the right thing to do or not?'” said singer Song Bo-ra, one of the four Hamlets in the show. “The show focuses on the agony through which the prince has gone in the series of events that lead to his death,” she explained.
The Pansori Hamlet Project continues until Oct. 25 at the Jayu Theater at the Seoul Arts Center.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Taroo
jiae5853@korea.kr
Four singers revive Shakespeare’s tragic hero Hamlet and sing the story of his anguish as a traditional pansori narrative.
The Pansori Hamlet Project is underway at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul.
