Daisy's Musical World

(→French-Canadian Musical "Don Juan" performed in Korea.)

N.B. This article is from "The Korea Times":
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/culture/200609/kt2006092420030111700.htm

"Don Juan" Lives Again in French Musical

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

French musicals are becoming second to none in the English-language musical arena as a series of musicals such as "Notre Dame de Paris" and "Les Dix Commandements"(The Ten Commandments) have enjoyed great popularity in recent years.
The textured storyline of "Notre Dame" touches on social issues,while "Les Dix" unfolds a biblical episode with a gigantic choreography and vocalization styles.
However, another French musical,"Don Juan",which is scheduled to be performed in Seoul from Nov. 30 through Dec. 17, brings a different musical flavor. The story is a romance based on a Spanish legend about a villainous seducer. The show is to include extravagant gala performances.
Directed by Gilles Maheu, renowned for his previous directorial work of "Notre Dame de Paris",this version of "Don Juan" is a mixture of three previous versions --Tirso de Molina’s original copy,"The Seducer of Seville"(1630); Moliere’s play,"The Stone Feast"(1665); Mozart's opera,"Don Giovanni"(1787). It offers a fresh interpretation, bringing youth and modern touches to the story of the legendary womanizer.
The performance at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul will be the first of this version in Asia and the third in the world.
Unlike other stories of Don Juan as an unrepentant and heartless womanizer who disguises himself as the real lovers of women to deceive them, the musical will shed light on his hidden humane and romantic aspects, which lead him to truly love a woman.
"I am trying to act as a Don Juan who has a warm heart and a genuine love, who is not just a ruthless villain, by falling in love with Maria, an important figure in our version",Jean-Francois Breau, 28, who will play Don Juan in the musical, told reporters during a news conference in Seoul Plaza Hotel on Sept. 19. Four main actors, including Breau, visited here to preview the musical.
"Not only rediscovering Don Juan’s character but also indulging in Spanish dances and music, which have never been part of French musicals, will mesmerize Korean fans. I am completely sure that after the show, Korea will be swept by a frenzy of Spanish flamenco dances and music",he said.
The musical was a huge hit when it was staged in Montreal, Canada, in 2004 and in Paris last year. It lured more than 300,000 spectators in Montreal, and about 400,000 copies of the album for the musical were sold even before the opening of the musical in Canada.
In the show, spectacular and enchanting Spanish flamenco dancing troupes led by Angel Rojas and Carlos Rodriguez will entertain fans.
"Maria, a character who was created in this version, will lead Don Juan to realize true love. That is different from other versions of Don Juan",said Marie-Eve Janvier,25,who will play Maria.
The actors said that the musical differentiates itself from both English-language musicals and other French musicals presented before.
"The musical deals with all kinds of love--love between Don Juan and Maria,her love of the arts, Don Juan’s fatherly love for his son and Raphael’s love or patriotic loyalty",Breau said.
"I think such a common value touching all kinds of love has made the musical a big success in France and Canada, enabling people from all walks of life to enjoy it. I hope Korean fans will really love Don Juan too",he added.
The Seoul performance's organizer said that spectators will be satisfied with the last scene,which is designed to turn Don Juan into a warm-hearted human in this extravagant gala show.
Breau and Janvier promised that they will fine-tune the powerful but beautiful Spanish-tinged melodies.
The musical was arranged and composed by Felix Gray, acclaimed French singer and composer, in 2003, and it consists of 41 songs in French.