Hope You’re Hungry: COOKIN’ Dishes up Fun

COOKIN’ (NANTA in Korean), originally premiered in 1997 in Seoul, Korea with the intention to play to audiences throughout the world.

 

“To meet the initial plan, it was made into a non-verbal performance that can be performed anywhere in the world without a language barrier and received its fame through the Edinburg Fringe Festival in 1999,” said Song Seung-hwan, the creator and director of the show. “It consists of episodes of chefs in the kitchen based on Samulnori, a unique Korean traditional rhythm.”

 

The uniquely original show involves magic, acrobatics, comedy, mime, audience participation and, of course, food preparation as the cooks battle against time to prepare a wedding feast. The musical tells its story employing traditional Korean samul nori music, which for this show, is performed with improvised kitchen-related percussion instruments such as cutting boards and kitchen knives. 

 

The American premiere was put on hold for the last three years due to COVID-19, and remounted in the summer of 2022 at the resident theater in Seoul. From there, it headed back to the U.S., with a show last October in New York.

 

Now, for the first time, it’s performing at the Knight Theatre in Charlotte November 3 - 5. 

 

The Sixth Character

 

“I can’t wait to meet the audience in Charlotte and work with Blumenthal Performing Arts,” Song Seung-hwan said. “I hope audiences will feel the freedom from the unique rhythm of Korea and, through the comedy on stage, also feel the great pleasure of getting away from your daily life.”

 

(Cookin’ photo credit: PMC Productions Co.)

 

The five performers appearing in Charlotte are all actors with rich backgrounds trained to dance, drum, and cook before going on stage. Possible actors for the performance include Tae Wan Kim, Dong Keun Lee, Hye In Choi, Joon Seok Na, and Seung Kuk Kim.

 

“All had to go through a minimum of six months of training time,” Song Seung-hwan said. “Audience members have always been the sixth character, so we want audiences to come and get ready to be on stage and play their part in the show.”

 

Pile Those Dumplings

 

That audience participation includes two members acting as the bride and groom in a traditional Korean wedding ceremony, and they get to compete in piling up dumplings, and interacting with the performers.

 

Of course, as a non-verbal show, it required a lot of thought and discussion in the beginning on how to make the performance appeal to everyone.

 

(Cookin’ photo credit: PMC Productions Co.)

 

“The biggest challenge was to develop a simple storyline that can be understood universally, regardless of audience age or nationality,” Song Seung-hwan said. “We have a preshow slide for the audience to give some idea of what’s going to happen on stage and how to enjoy the show.”

 

Searching for the Magic

 

Plus, although COOKIN’ was made to be presented internationally from the beginning, there were challenges to overcome to be adjusted to different venues in various cultures.

 

“For example, some cultures would not allow any nudity, even a slight, such as an actress’s sleeveless costume, so we ended up redesigning the costume,” Song Seung-hwan said.

 

(Cookin’ photo credit: PMC Productions Co.)

 

Among the things that audiences world-wide have appreciated about the show is that it includes clowning, stunts and other fun that make it fun for the whole family.

 

“You’ll see all kinds of comical elements throughout the show, such as martial arts or flying veggies with some tricks behind,” Song Seung-hwan said. “I recommend the audience try searching for the magic behind it.”

 

A Recipe for Havoc

 

Working against the clock, the four zany chefs will scurry to prepare the feast and make a manic menu of nonstop, high-speed action that whips up into an all-you-can-eat frenzy of martial arts and Samulnori drumming.

 

Every utensil—yes, even the kitchen sink!—becomes an ingredient in a recipe for havoc and heart-pounding rhythms so irresistible, you’ll be looking for a second helping.

 

With such an original story, combined with Korean uniqueness and global universality, COOKIN’ has met 15 million audience members in 323 cities in 62 countries worldwide over the past 26 years and has left audiences with an appetite for more.

 

(Cookin’ photo credit: PMC Productions Co.)

 

Article by Keith Loria. ©Encore Atlanta. Used by permission.