The play, set in the 1980s, tells the story of a mother's sacrifices as she raises her children while selling fish at the market. Lee Kyung-sil will portray the devoted mother, while Son Soo-ah will play Sun-young, the girlfriend of the mother's son, Cheol-dong. The intriguing twist of the real-life mother and daughter playing a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law on stage adds to the play's appeal.
Born in 1994, Son Soo-ah debuted as a supermodel in 2016. She graduated from North Toronto Christian School in Canada and majored in Theater and Film at York University. She continued her acting career with a role in the JTBC drama 'Esquire: Lawyers Dreaming of Lawyers' last year.
While it's rare for real family members to appear in the same production, it has happened before. Actor Park Geun-hyung and his son Yoon Sang-hoon shared the stage in 'Death of a Salesman', and Jeon Moo-song and his daughter Jeon Hyun-ah appeared together in 'The Father'.
Such family casting can bring a natural rapport and emotional depth to performances, enhancing the audience's immersion. The genuine connection and chemistry built over years can be a significant asset on stage, while also generating buzz due to the real-life family dynamic.
However, there are concerns that the focus might shift from the play itself to the family relationship, potentially distracting the audience. Additionally, questions about the fairness of the casting process can arise, especially for the children involved.
Lee Kyung-sil addressed these concerns by stating on her social media that her daughter Soo-ah passed the audition to join the performance, noting that nearly 1,000 newcomers applied.
The key question remains whether this mother-daughter duo can deliver compelling performances and chemistry on stage. While their real-life relationship is a starting point, the ultimate measure of the play's success will be their acting and synergy. The audience is eager to see how convincingly their real-life bond translates into the narrative on stage.
By Da-yeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr