On the morning of the 12th, an interview with Alina Chevik, the director of the musical 'Anna Karenina', was held at a hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
During the interview, Chevik expressed her admiration for the talents of Kim So-hyang and Lee Ji-hye, along with Ok Joo-hyun, stating, "All the actors are excellent." She added, "I am pleased with all three actresses cast as Anna. Each of them portrays Anna differently, and their chemistry with the three male actors is also distinct, which I find very appealing." She encouraged audiences to see the performances to understand these differences.
When asked if any other actors stood out to her, Chevik hesitated, saying, "It's difficult to answer," comparing it to choosing a favorite among ten children, showing her affection for all the actors involved in 'Anna Karenina'.
Previously, 'Anna Karenina' faced controversy over casting, as Ok Joo-hyun was scheduled for 23 performances, while Lee Ji-hye and Kim So-hyang were set for 8 and 7 performances, respectively. This led to accusations of casting favoritism.
In response, the production company stated the following day, "Casting and scheduling are the exclusive rights of the production company and the original creators. The schedule was difficult to finalize due to various factors, including negotiations with the licensor, a reduction in total performances, and the actors' schedules."
'Anna Karenina' is based on the novel by Tolstoy, set in the late 19th-century Russian aristocracy, exploring themes of love, marriage, and family. The musical will open on the 20th and run until March 29 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
Reporter Da-yeon Jeong, Ten Asia light@tenasia.co.kr