It would be understandable considering the elaborate set and
ornate costumes that adorn the sweeping, historical tribute to Korean
nationalism — a somber, grueling epic that is as ambitious as it is long.
“Hero” tells the story of An Chunggun (played by Sung Hwa
Chung), a leader of Korea’s armed resistance against Japanese rule in the early
1900s. An was executed for the assassination of Ito Hirobumi (Sung Gee Kim),
the Japanese administer of power in Korea.
The musical was commissioned to commemorate the 100th
anniversary of An’s death and was widely acclaimed in Korea before making its
American debut Tuesday at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater.
It’s mostly grim, reflective score — with music by Sang Joon
Oh and book and lyrics by A Reum Han — includes more than 30 numbers that are
presented and orchestrated in a style similar to a typical American musical.
Many of the songs are somewhat staid ballads about
patriotism and sacrifice, generally lacking the kind of tunefulness that sends
audiences away humming.
But “Hero” seems to hang its hat on the scale of its
production as much as anything else.
The spectacle runs nearly three hours, including one
intermission, and boasts dozens of performers in brilliant, traditional attire,
as well as a movable, layered set featuring bold splashes of color and
transparencies.
The costumes are consistently appealing, from the radiant
kimonos of fan-waving Geishas to the stunning regalia of sword-wielding soldiers.
The creative vision also includes an overabundance of
artificial smoke, dynamic lighting and generous use of video projection that
contributes motion and depth, with effects varying from spellbinding to
dizzying.
In one of the show’s more stirring dance numbers, Japanese
police chase Korean freedom fighters through streets and across scaffolds, as
projections of brick tenements illuminate sliding backdrops to simulate a
captivating 3-D effect.
Under the direction of Ho Jin Yun, the violent clashes between
Koreans and Japanese are artfully expressed in balletic brawls reminiscent of
Sharks vs. Jets.
The most impressive set in “Hero” might be its most
disorienting as well. The climactic scene occurs aboard a train hurtling
through a snowy night. The full exterior of a life-size train is audaciously
sprawled across the stage, behind a translucent screen that reflects a frenetic
shower of wind-blown snow.
The train’s facade has a cutaway that hauntingly appears and
disappears, allowing the audience to intermittently peer inside the car and
observe its occupants and lushly decorated interior.
The approach initially results in a strongly alluring,
cinematic effect. But as the scene unfolds, the heavy snow becomes a persistent
and unnecessary distraction to what’s happening inside the car.
For better or worse, it is the unique visual expression —
and not the music — that will make people remember “Hero,” which is on display
at the Koch Theater through Sept. 3.