The Face Genius Actor

Episode 005

“…Since Joo-yeon is nearby, let’s start the rehearsal as soon as she arrives. I’d like to start from Act 4, is that okay?”

As soon as Lim Gyeong-ryeol finished speaking, Si-joon’s eyes widened in surprise.

Perhaps because his eyes were large like a romance manga protagonist, his emotional changes were clearly felt.

Lim Gyeong-ryeol inwardly sneered at this sight.

‘How could he have played the role of Meursault so far without any skill?’

Meursault from the novel “The Stranger” was originally a unique character who was difficult to read, yet exuded charm in all directions.

However, Theater Sorisaem didn’t have an actor who could give off this kind of feeling.

From the start, with so few members, it was impossible to find a role that completely matched the setting.

So the play “The Stranger” had been adapted with these considerations in mind.

In addition, to increase popularity and artistic value, several characters were not actually appearing, or Meursault’s dialogue level was adjusted, among other theatrical adaptations.

Given the circumstances of small theaters, it was a natural measure since the concentration would inevitably drop if there were many characters and multiple acts.

The play “The Stranger” had frequent act changes even for a small theater production.

‘That’s why impactful acting in each act is more important.’

Lim Gyeong-ryeol had many concerns about the role of Meursault because of this.

At first, he thought about taking on the role of Meursault himself, but soon shook his head.

This was because he had to take on the role of the prosecutor.

In the novel “The Stranger,” the protagonist Meursault also served as the narrator, but this wasn’t possible in the play.

If Meursault, who calmly accepts all situations, also took on the role of narrator, the play would become too static.

For this reason, the play “The Stranger” started with the trial scene from Part 2 of the novel, with the story progressing under the prosecutor’s lead.

It was no exaggeration to say that the play flowed almost entirely as a confrontation between the prosecutor and Meursault.

‘So I can’t entrust the role of prosecutor to anyone else. As the director and senior member of this theater company, I need to oversee the entire “The Stranger.”‘

After confirming himself in the role of prosecutor, there was no actor suitable for the role of Meursault.

Lee Joo-yeon, whose acting was as good as Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s, had to take on the role of ‘Marie’, Meursault’s lover, as one of the few female actors in Sorisaem.

An Junho, the next best actor, couldn’t be said to possess the tremendous charm fitting for the role of Meursault.

Rather, he was a perfect fit for the somewhat comically adapted ‘Raymond’, Meursault’s delinquent friend.

‘While I was deeply worried about this, Si-joon hoped to join the company.’

When Lim Gyeong-ryeol met Si-joon, he couldn’t help but shudder with tremendous joy.

It seemed there couldn’t be a more perfect actor to handle the role of Meursault.

Of course, Si-joon wasn’t a character with the same static charm as Meursault.

But Si-joon possessed a tremendous charm no less than that.

Si-joon was the owner of an incredible beauty that perfectly covered even his somewhat lacking charm.

‘Nothing else matters! He should play Meursault!’

Lim Gyeong-ryeol pushed Si-joon into the role of Meursault like that.

Some theater members expressed concerns and others showed dissatisfied expressions, but he ignored them.

Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s thoughts were already filled with Si-joon.

Even after confirming Si-joon’s terrible acting during practice, his conviction didn’t waver.

‘What does it matter when there’s hardly any dialogue except for Acts 1 and 4? It’s sufficiently coverable even now.’

Above all, Si-joon’s dazzling features, which never seemed to tire no matter how much one looked, were enough to guarantee a box office success.

However, when the play “The Stranger” officially began performances and continued to lose money, his thoughts changed.

It seemed that all the theater company’s problems were due to Si-joon’s insufficient acting.

He couldn’t help but think this way even more because Si-joon’s skills showed no signs of improvement even after several performances.

Also, the desire to shift the responsibility of not properly leading the theater company as its director played a role subconsciously.

That’s how Lim Gyeong-ryeol came to plan today’s events.

‘We’ll reluctantly give Meursault to Junho, and Raymond to another theater member who took on a staff role this time. Anyone would be better than Si-joon.’

While Lim Gyeong-ryeol was organizing his thoughts,

Lee Joo-yeon arrived 5 minutes later than the agreed time.

“Sorry. I’m a bit late. The bus was delayed.”

“You’re talking as if you’re only late today.”

“That’s true. Seoul’s traffic problems should be resolved soon.”

“Until that’s resolved, how about leaving a little earlier?”

“I’ll try to be mindful of that. Shall we start the rehearsal right away then?”

Lim Gyeong-ryeol wanted to snap back but held back.

It was difficult to treat Joo-yeon carelessly because she was also among the most senior members.

In fact, the two were same-age friends who had been together in this theater company for quite a long time.

Lim Gyeong-ryeol let out a deep sigh before speaking.

“We’ll start from Act 4. Wait for a moment.”

Joo-yeon immediately responded, not hiding her puzzlement.

“Act 4? Why? We could start from Act 1. I’m only 5 minutes late.”

“I know. There’s enough time for makeup even if we start from Act 1. I want to practice Act 4 once more. It’s our weakest part.”

Joo-yeon narrowed her eyes as if sensing something suspicious.

“You… Don’t tell me…”

Lim Gyeong-ryeol tried to ignore her reaction and shouted loudly.

“Alright! Now that everyone’s here, let’s prepare to start Act 4!”

Lim Gyeong-ryeol was rushing because of Joo-yeon.

In fact, before consulting with An Junho, Lim Gyeong-ryeol had first told Joo-yeon that he wanted to change the roles.

If Joo-yeon, another senior member, supported his opinion, changing the roles would be a very easy task.

So he consulted her first, but was flatly refused.

“You want to take away the role? Are you crazy? Don’t you know how cruel that is to an actor?”

“I know. But…”

“What but? You took responsibility for this, so leave it alone.”

“You were against Si-joon becoming Meursault at first too.”

“I was. But now I’m against another theater member taking Si-joon’s role.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do. Do you think it’ll end with just taking the role from Si-joon?”

“What if it’s not the end?”

“Other theater members will probably start doubting our decisions. Then Sorisaem is finished.”

Lim Gyeong-ryeol couldn’t refute because every point was correct.

That’s why he brought in An Junho to set up a new plan.

With this method, even Joo-yeon would have no choice but to follow Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s opinion.

‘If Si-joon shows terrible acting once more here, we’ll use that as a pretext. An Junho and others will agree with this.’

He had already recruited other theater members who took on staff roles before Si-joon arrived.

When he offered the role of Raymond to someone among them who was a decent actor, they readily accepted the proposal.

‘How about that, Joo-yeon? If public opinion leans in one direction like this, you won’t be able to spout nonsense about doubts or whatever, right?’

All that remained was for Si-joon to showcase terrible acting as planned.

* * *

Act 4 of “The Stranger” was composed of the situation where Meursault receives a death sentence for his indifference, and then has a conversation with the prosecutor the day before his execution.

It was also the only part where one could glimpse the true feelings of Meursault, who had accepted the death sentence without any particular excuse for himself throughout.

Meursault’s emotions and mental world were utterly incomprehensible.

The difficulty was considerable as the actor had to perform in a way that allowed the audience to accept this as much as possible with their hearts.

This was something only a senior named ‘Kwon Jung-wook’, an original member of Sorisaem who directly adapted the play “The Stranger” and is now a top star, had successfully achieved.

Since then, many seniors in the theater company had attempted the role of Meursault, but none had succeeded as perfectly as back then.

‘That’s how difficult the acting in Act 4 is. Lim Gyeong-ryeol has set a proper trap.’

I had already figured out Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s intentions.

It would have been foolish not to understand, having experienced it once before.

But I didn’t care about Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s intentions.

What was important now was to perform Meursault as satisfactorily as possible in this rehearsal.

‘Then even Lim Gyeong-ryeol won’t be able to express dissatisfaction with me taking on the role of Meursault.’

As I was recalling the Act 4 performance I had practiced dozens of times with the method mask on the darkened stage,

The surroundings slowly brightened and someone approached me.

It was Lim Gyeong-ryeol, who was playing the role of the prosecutor.

‘Hmm…’

I hesitated.

I couldn’t help but be a bit flustered after spotting Lim Gyeong-ryeol.

It wasn’t because the acting wasn’t going as I wanted.

It was because Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s movements as he acted the prosecutor felt too awkward.

‘No. Is this natural? The prosecutor in the method mask is almost identical to the real person.’

The difference between the real prosecutor and the prosecutor Lim Gyeong-ryeol was acting.

It was strange that Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s movements felt awkward even if there was a difference.

This was because Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s acting was highly regarded within Sorisaem.

It was almost top-tier, and I also remembered that Lim Gyeong-ryeol acted quite well.

‘But…’

Seeing it like this, it was completely different.

It was acting that could hardly be called good, even as a white lie.

As a result, the tension that had been tightly pressing my body gradually eased.

It was a change I could hardly have expected myself.

As the tension dissipated, Lim Gyeong-ryeol opened the barred door, came in, and began to speak to me.

“You refused to meet with the priest?”

I answered with an expression that showed almost no emotion.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I don’t believe in God.”

“There you go again. Do you think saying you don’t believe in God makes you look cool?”

“It’s not about looking cool. I just don’t believe in God.”

“Then are you okay with dying without having your sins forgiven?”

“I don’t know what sins I need to be forgiven for in the first place.”

“How foolish and pitiful. You still haven’t realized your sin.”

“It can’t be helped. My sin only exists because someone who knows nothing about me pointed at me and said I have a sin.”

“Do you still think you have no sin?”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you answer in court that you had no sin?”

“I kept saying it. But no one listened.”

“Then why didn’t you say in court that no one was listening?”

“I kept saying it. But no one was curious.”

“You only spoke. It seems you didn’t want to live that much.”

“I kept saying I wanted to live without stopping. But it seems you won’t let me live.”

As I finished my answer, Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s eyebrow twitched.

A situation that might seem like acting to a third party.

But it wasn’t acting.

Lim Gyeong-ryeol had unknowingly bounced out of the prosecutor’s role and was revealing his personal emotions.

It was clear he was uncomfortable with me performing decently.

‘Am I doing okay? No. This isn’t the time to think about that.’

I almost got caught up in that emotion but tried hard to collect myself.

As I said before, the most important thing now was to digest the acting I had practiced with the method mask as best as possible.

Meanwhile, Lim Gyeong-ryeol, having sorted out his emotions, recited the next line.

“Those who don’t actively defend themselves can’t survive in court! Court is where you have to do something even if it doesn’t work!”

“Does the defense you’re talking about mean making excuses? Or does it mean lying? I just answered everything honestly.”

“That’s why you’re going to die! That wasn’t human emotion! It was a murderer’s emotion! A psychopath’s emotion!”

Lim Gyeong-ryeol rushed through his lines as if to overwhelm me with his acting.

It was with such force that it seemed he would kill me, the murderer, with his own hands at any moment.

I continued speaking calmly, not backing down even in the face of such force.

Rather, I slowed the tempo slightly to act appropriately.

“My mother once said something like this: All humans are death row inmates waiting for their death sentence.”

Then Lim Gyeong-ryeol replied with a sneer on his lips.

“So you were pitying yourself while recalling such words!”

“Is the feeling of pity wrong?”

“It is wrong! But what good would it do to regret now? It’s not like you can survive.”

“For the same reason, I felt regret for my mother’s death, but yes, I didn’t express it. But why does that become the reason for my execution?”

“Because your emotions are not normal! And what’s not normal can’t be objective! Ask anyone on the street! Who could understand?”

“…”

“You’re a murderer! You killed an unknown man on the beach! A murderer who ended up killing even yourself! Congratulations! You’ll soon meet your mother!”

And as the lines ended, Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s smile deepened.

‘It was bearable up to now, but can you really handle the next line?’

It felt almost as if he was asking this.

At that moment, a spotlight shone on me so intensely it was blinding, and without hesitation, I roughly grabbed Lim Gyeong-ryeol’s collar.

Then I began to pour out my lines like a waterfall.

“Shut up! Just because you’re going to kill me soon doesn’t mean I admit to my crime! I never intended to prove that no crime exists, and I still don’t! It’s you who have to prove that a crime exists!”

“Urgh.”

“Keep shouting if you want to delude yourself that you’ve won! The more you do, the more miserable your end will be at the threshold of death! You fool!”

With that, I spat out all my lines and abruptly released his collar.

The strong light of the spotlight was still blinding my eyes.

* * *

A moment later.

The curtain fell and the rehearsal ended.

But for some reason, Lim Gyeong-ryeol couldn’t say anything for a long time.

‘What’s this? Did I do something wrong?’

It wasn’t just Lim Gyeong-ryeol.

An incredible silence swirled around the stage.

No one could make even the slightest sound.

‘I see… I must have done something wrong for sure. I’ve failed again to give a successful performance.’

I thought this and momentarily hardened my expression, but soon felt relieved.

I was glad this was just a rehearsal.

If this had happened on the actual stage, it would have been nothing short of an accident.

After organizing all my thoughts, I opened my mouth to apologize.

“I’m sorr-“

But Lim Gyeong-ryeol interrupted me and asked as if he couldn’t believe it.

“…How on earth did this happen?”

As I belatedly grasped the situation and looked around, I saw that the other theater company members had the same expression on their faces.

Their expressions contained not even a hint of criticism about the acting.