On the last day of June, I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation from HTC and attended the K-Musical International Market showcase of the musical <Ostrich Boys> held at the Woori Bank Hall in COEX Artium!
The showcase program at the K-Musical International Market condenses each production into a 40-minute format presented as a competition — something the emcee also explained in the pre-show announcement!
The key numbers and scenes from the show were performed with minimal set and lighting, and true to the international market spirit, English subtitles for the dialogue were displayed at the back of the stage!
The pamphlet received at the ticket booth before the show included an introduction to the production written by the creative team.
Based on the original work by British author Keith Gray, a stage play of the same name was also produced by the National Theater of Korea back in 2016!
The pamphlet includes a quote from original author Keith Gray: "The characters' raw, unguarded emotions and the powerful momentum of the story brought an unforgettable journey to life."
The story begins with the sudden death of a friend named Ross. Dissatisfied with the adult-led funeral arrangements, three friends set out on a journey to fulfill Ross's long-held wish. Ross had always wanted to visit a place in Scotland called Ross, and so his friends steal his ashes and embark on a long road to take him there.
Along the way, they make foolish mistakes, argue and fall out with each other, and gradually the guilt and sense of responsibility each of them carries over Ross's death begins to surface — and through it all, we witness the boys stumble, struggle, and grow.
I had seen the premiere production of the musical <Ostrich Boys> last year, and even within the showcase's limited running time, I felt the team did a remarkable job of conveying the essence of the story!
The showcase opens in a blackout with the sound of a traffic accident, and unlike the original production, the urn prop is introduced from the very beginning — a choice that helpfully signals right away that Ross occupies a different plane from the other three friends (in the form of a spirit).
I was also delighted to find that the moment that had stayed with me most from the full production was woven into the showcase as well.
It is the idea that throughout the journey to bring Ross to Ross, he is present with his friends in one form or another.
Sometimes as a station worker, sometimes as Uncle Joe who gives the lost boys a ride, sometimes as a fellow passenger on the train — Ross keeps appearing along their journey.
The play unfolds entirely from Ross's perspective, with Ross himself appearing as the narrator,
and yet, flipping that around and imagining the story solely through the eyes of the three friends, I found myself wondering whether they were, without realizing it, sensing the presence of their beloved friend throughout the journey.
Everyone we love eventually leaves us, but when we think of them and hold onto our memories, there are moments when it feels as though they are right there beside us.
Rather than dwelling on the reasons for a loss and sinking into grief and self-blame, I was left thinking that calling up the good memories — letting them seep quietly into the moments we share — might itself be a beautiful form of mourning.
At the K-Musical International Market, alongside Korean audiences and industry professionals who love Korean performance, there were also a considerable number of international industry guests — fitting for an event of this scale.
It struck me that <Ostrich Boys>, a musical about the friendship and coming-of-age of four boys, carries themes that resonate well beyond any single country.
Anyone watching might find themselves thinking of the people they hold dear, or those they have lost, and drawing out emotions they had kept quietly tucked away inside.
And seeing these boys grow up in all their rough-edged, unpolished ways, you might also find yourself looking back on your own childhood or the winding path of your own growing up.
It was a true honor to be part of this moment — witnessing Korean performance step out onto the world stage.