Running until October 19 at the Gwanglim Art Center BBCH Hall, the musical 'Marie Curie' tells the story of Marie Curie, the physicist and chemist who discovered the radioactive element radium and became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.
While one might assume that a work dealing with the field of 'science'—a blend of physics and chemistry—would be challenging, this is not the case. The production is accessible enough for audiences aged 8 and up. Realistic chemical props and physical tools capture attention, and the depiction of Curie's experimental processes and subsequent failures keep the audience on edge, rooting for a 'successful experiment outcome.'
The dialogue is also approachable. Radium, discovered by Curie, was used in products like toothpaste and cigarettes. Such information is woven into song lyrics like "Apply it and go out" and "Radium Paradise," making Curie's groundbreaking discovery easily digestible as 'common knowledge' for the audience.
While radium found diverse applications and greatly benefited people's lives, it also had a darker side as a 'radioactive substance.' The element discovered by Curie led to the deaths of many factory workers who made luminous watches with radium. The musical offers a fresh perspective by teaching scientific concepts typically covered in science classes. It also highlights the personal struggles of a scientist who gained fame through her discoveries, showcasing her human side.
'Marie Curie' was recognized for its artistic merit at the 2021 '5th Korea Musical Awards,' winning five awards including Best Production, Producer, Script, Composition, and Direction. After the performance, one audience member remarked, "Unlike other musicals, there were no ad-libs, focusing solely on the story of life, which allowed for a deeper reflection on Curie's life and inner world." Another attendee commented, "If historical figures' lives and achievements can be learned in such an easy and refreshing way, I would be interested in watching other musicals about great figures."
Reporter: Dayeon Jung, TenAsia light@tenasia.co.kr