“Equus” Returns Just Before Turning 40

When I visited the practice room of the performing arts in Daehakro, the actor, Cho Jae-hyun, 39, had a delayed lunch in the nick of time. Having a chilly noodle stew at the corner of the room, Cho asked if I would like to share the dish, saying, “Let’s have it together.” Instead of an impressive charisma on the television screen, his unpretentious outward appearance captured my attention. When he and I sat together to have an interview a minute later, an aggressive passion was felt in his eye. “Uncle Actor,” Cho Jae-hyun was suddenly changed into “17 year old boy,” Arlun.

Physical Exercises to Take The Role of a 17 Year-Old Boy--Cho will appear on the performing arts, “Equus,” which is scheduled to start on January 29, as the main character, Arlun. When this play was first performed in Korea from the end of 1990 to 1991, he was in charge of Arlun. He was 25 years old then, attracting people’s attention with powerful movements. However, now he is close to 40 and appearing again on the stage as Arlun.

“In the point of passion, I was closer to middle age 14 years ago. In that time, there was my little child, Su-hoon, at home. I can remember always looking at the watch, for I was eager to go home as soon as possible. But, nowadays, I think the passion and sensibilities of youth are being restored back to life. However, as the body never lies about the years gone by, I had to work out to regain my physical strength,” Cho remarked.

For that reason, he commutes from his house in Pyoungchang-dong to the practice room in Hyehwa-dong by running. He is increasing his body strength with 30 to 40 minutes of running every day. He always shows up at 11 a.m. and leaves at 10 p.m. after a harsh practice.

“I tried it in order not to lose my vigor”--It was a challenge for him at the age of 40, to try to have a 17 year-old body. In 1990, he was merely a young actor with great potential, but, right now, he has become a star firmly grounded on the television and movie screen. It is not clear whether or not this play just breaks even like his remark, “Trying won’t do any harm, but it won’t guarantee any gain.” What has induced him to this challenge? “A play is really harsh work. In the case of movie and television dramas, it can be altered if an actor makes a mistake. But, the play is already preparing me to be in the best condition before actually starting. The stage is candid. When an actor concentrates on his performance, there is time for him to conduct it more conveniently and easily. This is the obstacle which I am faced with right now. I cannot put up with my muscles getting soft. Nowadays, even to practice puts a lot of pressure on me. I am enjoying the tension,” Cho remarked.

“I Will Revive the Aspiration of the First Equus Performance”--As for him, Arlun is the role to which he wants to challenge again, for it is the role which gave the lesson that the stage is abundant. After many trial and errors, he can reach his dreams.

“Probably, if I take the role of Arlun at nearly 40 years old, it will be much more accurate rather than taking charge of the role as an old man at 80. This is because I can recall his image from my memory. That’s why I am confident with the performance… The problem is how the audiences receive it,” Cho remarked.

Although he talked about it as a triviality, the tension on his shoulder seemed great. He even disclosed that “I sometimes dream that I fluster about when I forget the narration.”

“I don’t like people categorizing an actor as talent, movie actor, and performing arts’ actor. I am just an actor. However, there are differences between the play and the other genre of performance. That is the sympathy with the audiences.”

He hopes that a large audience will visit the theater to meet the “New Arlun.”

Sung-Won Joo swon@donga.com