Musical 'Secretly, Greatly: THE LAST' Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Expanded Cast and Stage

The production sits somewhere between a musical and a play. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the stage has expanded, and the largest cast in its history delivers impressive choreography. However, some idol-turned-actors fell short of expectations, and the direction seemed to lack consideration for the audience.

Currently running at the NOL Theater Woori Card Hall in Daehangno, Seoul, 'Secretly, Greatly: THE LAST' (directed by Choo Jeong-hwa) is based on a webtoon with 10 million readers. The story follows elite agents from a North Korean special operations unit who infiltrate a South Korean neighborhood under the guise of unification.

Agents Won Ryu-hwan, Lee Hae-rang, and Lee Hae-jin from Unit 5446 are legendary in North Korea for their skills. They disguise themselves as a fool, an aspiring singer, and a high school student in South Korea, experiencing unexpected bonds and familial love. Their mission forces them to choose between peaceful lives and their duties as agents.

For its 10th anniversary, the production has significantly expanded since its 2016 debut. The cast has grown from 14 to 33, and the larger stage accommodates intense training scenes of the North Korean agents.

The production drew anticipation with a cast including idol stars like Kim Dong-jun, Oh Jong-hyuk, Niel, Youngbin, Mingyu, and Lee Ji-ham. However, the results were underwhelming. Youngbin and Lee Ji-ham struggled with pitch and lacked the vocal power needed for musical theater. Only Kim Dong-jun, with his extensive musical experience, delivered a stable performance.

The second act was chaotic. Despite the climax of the trio's emotions, the actors' vocal and emotional delivery weakened compared to the first act. Singing was almost unamplified, and fatigue was evident, disrupting harmony with the ensemble.

In scenes where tension escalated, Lee Ji-ham's unclear pronunciation led to missed lines. Youngbin, making his musical debut, suffered a critical pitch error, breaking the flow.

Technical execution was also lacking. In a scene where Won Ryu-hwan, living as Dong-gu, checks his bankbook and cries, no stage props were used, making it hard for second-floor audiences to understand the action. Without the actor's line "Dong-gu's salary," the situation would have been unclear.

Fight scenes with the ensemble lacked finesse. Despite the trio and ensemble swinging swords and kicking, the absence of sound effects and reliance on actors' grunts reduced immersion.

While emotions like longing for a mother left in the North and affection for a mother met in the South were conveyed, they fell short of leaving a lasting impact.

Nevertheless, the ensemble's choreography was highly polished. Military movements and rifle choreography were precise, capturing attention, and the narration clearly explained Won Ryu-hwan's background, aiding early engagement. The scene depicting Dong-gu's busy life in South Korea with clones added wit. The use of real red lasers in a scene where North Korean agents aim guns at each other heightened tension.

'Secretly, Greatly: THE LAST' runs until April 26.

By Dayeon Jeong, TenAsia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr