ALL NOVEL Chapter 90
『We are Flame, the official pre-interview of Theater Flame revealed!
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■ Broadcasting: SKS Radio [Baemin-hyung's Cultural Train]
■ Host: Baemin-hyung
■ Discussion: Theater Flame (Law Firm Ji-hyeok’s Lawyer)
Q. Hello.
A. (Theater Flame) Hello.
Q. Recently, the interest in Theater Flame has been intense. How aware are you of this buzz?
A. (Jang Geonho) Well, those preparing for the stage don’t know much about what’s happening outside. But it seems our youngest knows a bit.
Q. By youngest, you mean actor Kim Donghu, right? How does he know?
A. (Kim Donghu) Ah, I think it’s because of our agency. Veritas is handling a lot of the non-stage aspects.
Q. Then, can I ask again how tangible this excitement is?
A. The phone keeps ringing nonstop. The director could practically skip rope with the dark circles under his eyes.
Q. Haha, I see. Next question! So, how did Theater Flame come to be?
A. (Bong Jinwoo, noticing everyone’s gaze) Ah, that… I honestly didn’t think it would get this big. Everyone here is amazing, and I just mustered the courage for a moment.
Q. Courage?
A. (Kim Donghu) On the day of the entrance ceremony, someone suddenly stopped me and told me to take a look at the script, full of confidence, gesturing flamboyantly.
A. (Everyone bursts into laughter)
Q. So it all started with just one person’s recruitment?
A. (Bong Jinwoo) Yes, yes… I guess you could say that.
Q. When did you start thinking about plays for kids?
A. From the initial planning stage, I thought it would be nice to come up with a play for kids.
Q. From the very beginning? So, this idea was with you even before Flame was born?
A. That’s right.
Q. Wow, that’s really cool! A play for kids! I’m really looking forward to it.
A. Please look forward to it a lot. Let’s definitely meet at the theater next week!
Q. Haha, then shall we continue? Next question!
This interview quickly spread among fan cafes as soon as it was released.
It started simply with questions about the work and the project’s intentions, then moved on to brief introductions of the actors’ roles and light updates.
Fans were curious about what they always wanted to know.
And at the same time, a contradictory situation occurred.
ㄴWhen will tickets be available? I want to see the performance too!
ㄴIsn’t the first performance for kids? I want to go with the kids too, what the heck;;;
ㄴThe intention is so good, I can’t complain about it;
ㄴI have money, but what the heck is this situation where I can’t book tickets?
Despite the promotions, the intended audience for the play couldn’t see those promotions.
How could young kids look up the full interview on their own?
Even if they were older, they were just middle schoolers.
There were difficulties in finding information.
In contrast, die-hard fans were already well aware of these parts.
As the actors they wanted to see seemed like unreachable dreams, they couldn’t help but feel anxious.
However, Choi Seok-ho was keenly aware of this situation.
Stopping briefly from glancing at the interview, he continued the meeting.
“We’ll focus on kids’ performances on weekdays and perform for the general public on weekends.”
“Yes, I think that works. After all, kids can find time on weekdays.”
“We need to showcase the kids waiting first, so the first week is strictly for kids.”
“So the next week, Wednesday to Friday for kids, and Saturday and Sunday for the general public, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. We’ll continue like that until the second week, and from the third week, we’ll mix it up without differentiation.”
“Okay, understood.”
By adjusting the schedule to allow the general public to see it as quickly as possible, they implemented a strategy to keep the excitement and interest in Theater Flame alive.
‘Once the performance occurs, there’s no way word won’t spread.’
Despite only being able to attend a single rehearsal due to scheduling issues, Choi Seok-ho felt [Story of the Stars and Moon] was extraordinarily overwhelming compared to any play he had seen before.
As time passed, the following week approached.
The day of Theater Flame’s ignition was nearing.
+++++
Kids are pure.
Because they see the world without prejudice and preconceptions,
They offer only honest and genuine answers.
But sometimes, that’s why they mature quickly.
If the world viewed without lies doesn’t allow room for childishness,
Children then want to become adults faster than anyone.
They don’t even think about looking for snacks or candy,
Instead, they align themselves with reality,
Endlessly pondering what the best judgment they can make right now is.
And the conclusion is always.
“It’s better to do an extra shift in that time rather than watch this.”
“But still, the director asked us to watch, so just keep quiet for a bit?”
“No, honestly, it’s true. No matter how director Jinwoo is, what’s the point of this help?”
Their minds were filled with thoughts on resolving the harshness of reality.
Kids from orphanages like Bong Jinwoo.
They were on their way in a shuttle bus operated by the Arts Center.
“What’s the point of watching if no one even knows who’s who?”
“Still, don’t you know Kim Donghu at least?”
“Even if I know, what’s he doing anyway? Just a rather good-looking actor, I guess.”
Since younger kids usually occupied the TV at the orphanage, the relatively older kids were often accustomed to matching that.
“At this time, it’d be a total gain to just watch Power Rangers or Kamen Rider and go to work.”
“Come on, stop complaining! Jinwoo oppa made this play!”
“I know, I know, I’m just going along. If it weren’t for Jinwoo hyung, I’d skip it too.”
The orphanage kids were making a loud ruckus while also harboring immense anticipation for the play.
They didn’t know the details, but they had heard it was a play featuring luxurious actors, so naturally, they couldn’t help but be curious.
The feeling of indulging in a luxury they thought they’d never enjoy.
The middle schooler who first complained about work, Lee Jinseok, was trying hard to play it cool while calming his twitching smile.
‘How fun will it be?’
With that anticipation in his heart, he blinked a few times.
When Lee Jinseok regained his senses, the stage was already right in front of him.
‘…It’s huge.’
Was it called an opera house?
It was a jaw-droppingly large size.
They said it could comfortably seat at least 2,000 people.
That Jinwoo hyung directed this stage.
‘I want to shout and boast about it!’
Lee Jinseok had to suppress the urge to immediately brag to the audience that the director of this play is his brother.
The opera house was lively with the gathering of kids.
Even the orphanage directors managing them had a hard time calming the noise at this moment.
Slowly.
The lights began to dim.
An instinctive signal to focus filled the theater with a stillness as if nothing had ever happened.
And right then.
“Why must we live looking at the stars and the moon?”
As narration filled the air,
the curtain on the stage lifted,
“How boring.”
The Young Prince appeared.
Wearing a dazzling crown, a red cape, and a royal robe embedded with striking jewels,
it was an outfit that could easily come off as overdone, yet no one seemed concerned with attire.
‘How can a person be that handsome?’
At the moment when the lights dimmed to start the play,
the timid kids could have burst into tears.
But even those kids couldn’t think of crying; they simply gazed at the Young Prince.
‘He’s handsome’—that’s usually said when seeing a good-looking guy.
And with that, there’s always some additional expression added—
where is it attractive, and other such specifics.
However, the Young Prince before the kids didn’t need any added expressions.
He was just handsome.
There shouldn’t be a spotlight behind his face,
but it created the illusion that bright light radiated around the Young Prince’s face.
“Wow.”
The pure admiration of the children erupted.
He wasn’t doing anything special.
Just after saying it was boring, he simply looked at the audience.
The only unique point they noticed late was that he had a sword at his waist.
It was as if the prince they had dreamed of suddenly appeared before them.
‘Did our kids behave this well?’
It was so surprising that even all the orphanage directors were taken aback.
For the first time, they realized that one person’s good looks could evoke such silence.
“This tiny asteroid is too boring to be here. Why am I in such a small place?”
The Young Prince spoke, and immediately a middle-aged man dressed as a large tree appeared.
With a foolish expression and silly gestures, a few kids burst out laughing,
and Jin Myeong-tae’s Foolish Tree performance began.
“Too small? I think it’s too large! See! I’m growing so much!”
“That’s because you’re eating everything around you while growing!”
“Huh? I don’t know anything like that! I just love eating and sleeping! That’s the most fun!”
Perfect voice projection.
Even if he spoke in a small whisper, his voice reached the ends of the audience.
The Foolish Tree kept saying he wanted to grow.
That was just the whining of a child.
Unbothered by the realities around him,
like a child throwing a tantrum to have what he wants,
the Young Prince let out a deep sigh.
“Sure, live like that. Because I’m leaving here.”
The Young Prince grew tired of the long-repeated routine of years.
He felt that once he escaped this place, a larger world awaited him.
And in that moment.
“Leaving? Here? You’re leaving? Then what about me?”
A rose blushing bright red appeared.