Play 'The Old Man's Dream' with Kim Young-ok, Kim Yong-rim and Son Sook: A sense of rivalry? "Nonsense... We are working actors"

\r\n
\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\n
[Financial News] "To be honest, I don't really like being called the grand dame of the theater world. I am a working actor." (Son Sook)
Rather than basking in praise from juniors while standing offstage, three actors who want to be onstage acting today — Kim Young-ok (88), Kim Yong-rim (86) and Son Sook (82) — are meeting audiences through the play 'The Old Man's Dream'.
The production, which opened on the 9th at the LG Arts Center Seoul U+ Stage in Gangseo District, Seoul, begins when Bom-hee, who runs a small art academy, meets a spirited grandmother named Chun-ae who comes in saying she wants to paint her own portrait for her memorial photo. Based on a webtoon of the same name, the play tells a story that prompts audiences to reflect on dreams and life beyond generations and age.
\r\n\r\n
The role of Chun-ae, the central character of the play, is shared by Kim Young-ok, Kim Yong-rim and Son Sook, each bringing a different interpretation to the stage. The role of Bom-hee, the art academy director, is played by Ha Hee-ra, Lee Il-hwa and Shin Eun-jung.
At the press conference held on the 13th, Kim Young-ok said, "At first I was scared, but I chose the play because I loved the work," adding, "Personally, I'm approaching it with the feeling that this could be my last production." Despite being the oldest cast member, she has surpassed 50,000 subscribers just three months after launching her YouTube channel, continuing to communicate across generations.
Kim Yong-rim said, "I hesitated because of my age and health, but the moment I read the script, I felt a strong desire that 'I absolutely have to do this'," and added, "Doing theater actually makes me feel younger at heart." She continued, "I've been playing mothers since my 30s, but whatever role comes my way, it's an actor's job to do it well," and said, "The very fact that I can still stand on stage at this age is my dream and my greatest happiness."
Son Sook joked, "Of the three Chun-aes, I'm the youngest," then said with a laugh, "At an age when you never know when you'll go, playing a character who faces life in such a cheerful and beautiful way has made me reflect a lot and learn a great deal."
Known for memorizing scripts by listening to them, she said, "It's a sad thing, but my eyesight is poor, so for the past few years I've been recording the script and listening to it over and over," adding, "I didn't want to cause trouble for the other actors, so I listened to it for two hours every day," revealing her undiminished passion for acting despite her age.
\r\n\r\n
Since three actors share the same role, they were also asked whether they feel a sense of rivalry.
Son Sook said, "What actor wouldn't feel a sense of rivalry?" but added, "At this age, just having rivals is something that makes me happy. When we come to the rehearsal room, everyone is so kind that we can't even compete," she said with a laugh.
Kim Yong-rim said, "For an actor, having a basic sense of rivalry is a given. Saying you don't have it would be a lie," but added, "In this production, rather than competing, we end up asking ourselves questions as we watch each other's interpretations."
Kim Young-ok said, "I hope audiences will see all three versions of Chun-ae," and added, "Even though it's the same lines and the same scenes, it's fascinating how different they can be. We may be rivals, but it's not about winning — it's about each of us showing the character in our own way."
Like Chun-ae in the play, who is in her later years, do the actors themselves have any dreams they are pursuing right now?
Kim Young-ok said calmly, "At my age, what grand dreams could I possibly have?" and added, "It's enough for me to just go with the flow of life, and one day quietly close my eyes." Son Sook answered, "I don't need to be the lead. Even if I'm just standing behind my juniors, as long as my health allows, I want to keep standing on stage. That is my dream right now."
The actors said in unison, "It's a rare production with cast members ranging from age 8 to 89," and added, "At a time when family dramas featuring large extended families are disappearing, 'The Old Man's Dream' is a work that embraces all generations, making audiences both laugh and cry."
\r\n\r\n
Also at the event were Park Ji-il and Kim Seung-uk, who play Sang-gil, a gruff, old-fashioned father who struggles to express his emotions; Kang Sung-jin, Lee Pil-mo and Yoon Hee-seok, who play Chae-un, Bom-hee's younger husband; and Jin Ji-hee, Yoon Bom and Choi Seo-yoon, who play Kkotnim, Chae-un's high-school-senior daughter going through puberty.
Although child actors and veteran actors gathered together in one place, a sense of solidarity that transcended generations flowed naturally. The younger actors did not hide their deep respect for the veterans. One after another, they said that just the seniors' presence was reassuring, and confessed that simply sharing the stage with them was a great learning experience and a blessing.
Lee Pil-mo said, "I cried when I first read the script. I really wanted to show this work to my parents, but they've already passed away, which is such a regret," and revealed, "My mother, who never missed a single one of my performances, passed away three years ago." He added, "On stage, I think of Kim Young-ok, Kim Yong-rim and Son Sook as my own mothers when I act," leaving a quiet resonance.
Kim Seung-uk said, "Reading the script made me think a lot about my late father," and added, "I am acting with even more sincerity, with my father in mind."
Kang Sung-jin said, "This work made me rethink the dreams of middle age," and added with a playful touch, "I hope 'The Old Man's Dream' will grow into a production that goes beyond a national tour and reaches audiences around the world," drawing laughter.
Although 'The Old Man's Dream' is a premiere production, it has gotten off to a smooth start thanks to the popularity of the original work and its star-studded cast.
Park Su-hui, CEO of production company Su Company, said, "We are grateful," and introduced the play as "a work that asks all of us, living in an aging society and having lost our dreams, how we should grow old and how we should live."
Playwright Yoon Hee-kyung shared her joy at the opening, saying, "I am happy. I wanted to tell a universal story about friendship that transcends age and the love within families."
\r\n\r\n
jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter