To celebrate May (Family Month in Korea), I’d like to introduce a selection of plays and musicals centered around the theme of family.
<Robin>
First up is the musical <Robin>, a steady-seller that has completed its third run since premiering in 2020. The story follows Robin, a genius scientist living in a space bunker with his beloved daughter Luna and their robot Leon to escape radiation on Earth. After ten long years of waiting, a return signal finally arrives from Earth. However, that very day, Robin discovers through a routine check-up that he has only one week left to live due to a genetic condition. Unable to return to Earth himself, Robin spends his final week in space making a momentous decision for Luna’s future.
In the show, the father, Robin, and his teenage daughter, Luna, frequently clash due to mutual misunderstandings. Spending her adolescence in a cramped space bunker, Luna is frustrated with everything and resents her father for still treating her like a child. Robin tries to understand her, but he is still clumsy at it. Any father or daughter watching will deeply relate to how these two eventually learn to understand one another and express their true feelings.
If you're curious about how the story of Robin, Luna, and Leon unfolds, I highly recommend catching the next run with your parents or family. (A quick warning: watch out for spoilers and bring tissues—it’s the biggest "tear-jerker" I’ve ever seen.)
"You’re going to be a wonderful adult. In the world that calls for you, fly away like a bird toward wherever your heart leads."
(From the lyrics of the number 'Goodbye with a Smile')
<Roger>
Second is the musical <Roger>, currently playing its premiere season at SKON Hall 2 until May 31st. The story features two characters: Skylar, a controller who has lived her life trying to clear her pilot father’s name after a tragic aviation accident, and Didi, a boy living in a small harbor on the island of Bahamas. Skylar must find a former controller hiding in the Bahamas to reveal the truth, while Didi needs to learn air traffic control from Skylar to save his fading island. Despite having nothing in common, they continue their lessons via radio. Along the way, Skylar seeks advice on how to be a "good parent," while Didi, who lost his parents at a young age, learns from Skylar how to face life’s challenges as an adult. Their relationship evolves until an unexpected incident shifts their stories across the sky and sea.
<Roger> is notable for its lighting, effects, and visual expressions that mimic a real airplane. The scene where Skylar teaches Didi how to tie a necktie was particularly moving. Be sure to head to the theater before May ends to see how their journey concludes.
"There’s no need to try and look cool. Just speak as yourself."
(Skylar’s line from the show)
<Dear Evan Hansen>
The Tony Award-winning musical <Dear Evan Hansen>premiered in Korea in 2024 and is set for a return this August at the Chungmu Arts Center Grand Theater. The protagonist, Evan Hansen, is a high schooler with social anxiety disorder. While writing letters to himself as part of his therapy, he becomes entangled in the aftermath of a classmate named Connor’s suicide. Evan ends up fabricating a friendship with Connor, and the lie spirals out of control. When his mother, Heidi, eventually discovers the truth, she offers him apology and comfort, leading them to reflect on their own neglected relationship.
Heidi, busy with the realities of life, struggled to truly listen to Evan, while Evan hid the truth from her, causing mutual pain. Watching the two finally open up and comfort each other is incredibly moving. Experience the weight of Evan's journey and what follows in the upcoming production.
❗️Extra:
As a side note, not all family stories are warm and fuzzy—many explore much darker territory.
<The Brothers Karamazov>
This musical opened on May 12th and is currently playing at NOL Theater. Based on Dostoevsky’s novel, this original musical depicts the intense love-hate relationships and madness among a father and his four sons.
<Wiliam and Wiliam and Wiliams>
An original musical based on the "Shakespeare forgeries" scandal. It follows William Samuel Ireland, his son William Henry Ireland, and the mysterious "Gentleman H." To please his demanding father, Henry forges Shakespeare’s works, and Samuel believes them completely. As the lies grow, the two eventually face trial. The show finished its second run last November and is expected to return for a third this December.
Family stories resonate with everyone because they evoke a spectrum of emotions—from sadness to joy. This Family Month, why not share those emotions by catching a show with your loved ones?
