2021. 05. 25
- ELLE KOREA June Issue <Midnight Sun>
Are you a little nervous about your first musical show despite having done so many stages until now?
O. The pressure for <Midnight Sun>’s first show is huge, so it’s hard for me not to be nervous. Other actors had about a month and a half to practice but I had only 3 weeks.
You had to do SHINee’s promotion and prepare for your musical at the same time.
O. I pushed myself a lot. Even so, it’s been a while since I did a stage with an audience. There’s especially a need for the musicals to have an audience in order to build up the emotions together.
You have experienced 4 musical works including <The Brothers were Brave>. The way Onew shows his presence on a musical stage is…
O. As the on-site nature is strong, you can feel fun in preparing for impromptu situations. The more I prepare for it, the more I can try them out. I get to continuously carry out a variety of challenges.
Do you achieve those changes on stage?
O. I prepare for it a lot backstage. You can do a different 100 kinds of acting with each scene given. After deciding on the things that I must do and things I will not be doing, I will flexibly change it when doing the rest on stage.
You seem to have mastered the way to match with many others on stage.
O. The time will come when you can do a stage well with just your body warming up, with it warmed up a little after doing the stage that you have intensively prepared for a few times. That’s when you can see everything. You can generally feel the situation and the atmosphere at the site. Those kinds of experience help when I am doing my show.
Have you seen Youngjae and Wonpil’s stage?
O. The musical started last week and other than a few times, I have watched all of the first shows done by the different casts. Youngjae’s acting of Haram has a boyish vibe. He just goes ‘Hahah!’ laughing when he appears on stage and that itself is enough to leave an impression with how refreshing it felt. Wonpil is very detailed. It seems like he sings knowing how high he wants his pitch to reach and what kind of tempo does he want. His acting is very natural even though he was doing all his narrative.
How is Onew’s ‘On-Haram’
O. Should I say that he is freer. I don’t really go as how it was planned (laughs). I really worked hard thinking to prepare it. That results in me feeling a little more relax.
The part that you are most immersed in when you are singing is…?
O. If I were to choose one, it will be ‘The Special You.’ Haram stands on the stage alone and sings it while looking at Haena’s room. Only my voice can be heard through the speaker. At least for this part, I would fall into my own thoughts and sing without looking at the audience.
<Midnight Sun> is receiving love worldwide with its remake. The part in its narration where you personally like is?
O. The heart that embraces and hugs all of there is in the story.
We felt that your voice fits well with the 18-year-old boy Haram’s role from your voice color after we watched the online show and there are lots of audiences that feel the same way. How do you feel when you heard someone saying that you fit the word ‘Youth’.
O. SHINee has been saying ‘Noona’ ever since we debuted, didn’t we? I am gratefully using the refreshing feeling that SHINee exerts when we sing upbeat songs. It’s like me standing on stage as the 18 years old Jung Haram despite me being 33 years old. I am glad that people are looking at it with a little beautification. (laughs)
You wore school uniform after a long while for acting as Haram. How were you during your school days?
O. I knew no one other than myself. I started my trainee life when I was in the 2nd year of high school. I turned my back to the world on my own back then. I just slept when I went to school. I talked to no one and went around alone, eat alone, it was a period of time when I was lack of sleep because I was busy practicing. As it was a really tough period of time… That might be the way I reserve my energy.
What would be the keyword Onew will need when describing your youth later on?
O. Wander? That must be included. (Laughs) Also, the people around me. I am someone who is easily swayed. The acquaintances around me are a really important existence to me.
Haram is Haena who has a rare disease’s comfort. What kind of comfort do you offer?
O. That person is already mustering a lot of strength on their own than what I have in mind so just being by their side itself is the best thing to do. Respecting one wholeheartedly and knowing to never cross the line is also a kind of consolation.
The thing that Onew feels is a challenge to him nowadays?
O. Talking real like this right now. If it was before, I would have filled the interview with words while smiling. However, whatever I do right now, I hope that there will be a sense of sincerity and it would be something I can be proud of myself for. I want to be real.
