“[CULTURE INTERVIEW] <아마데우스> 차지연, 그가 만들어가는 길 <Amadeus> Cha Ji Yeon, the path he makes,” an interview with 차지연 Cha Ji Yeon published by The Musical Magazine edited by 김호근 Kim Ho Geun. Photos courtesy of The Musical Magazine and Page One musical company.
From 광화문연가 Gwanghwamun Sonata’s Wolha to 더데빌 The Devil’s X-Black, and now 아마데우스 Amadeus’ Salieri, as the trend of gender-blind casting begun in the domestic performance industry, Cha Ji Yeon is breaking down the walls of the narrow world of an “actress” faster than anyone else. An actor with 15 years of experience from their debut who is happy to be able to imagine roles that have more possibilities when choosing new works. She said she was looking forward to “Amadeus” playing a male character based on a historical figure for the first time, and that there would be no audience who would not expect her to be seen as Salieri.
Did you know that on the day the cast for "Amadeus" was released, it was on Twitter's trending page in real time? Everyone is looking forward to Cha Ji Yeon’s Salieri.
I was a little nervous just now. I don't know how people reacted because I don't have social media. I've never heard of this before. But if they’re looking forward to it, oh, that's a relief. (Laughing) The roles I've played in the name of so-called "gender-blind casting" have been fantasy characters, so I thought it was worth a challenge for myself because Antonio Salieri is a real person. At first, I was worried if I could play a man who existed in real history. I politely declined the offer when I was asked to appear the first time, but I thought about it for months and made a dramatic decision at the end. Director 이진아 Lee Jina said this, “I've always believed in you, so let's trust in each other and try it together.” When I thought about it, I thought it would be fun to compete with male actors. I guess it was a work that I met by fate.
I think all the other actors who were cast as Salieri would have hesitated to appear because they were all men. And Mozart is played by male actors like before. Come to think of it, Lee Jina, the director, has always put a heavy burden on Ji Yeon. (Laughs)
From some point on, you see me as an “actor” instead of an “actress.” Think of my role as an actor who does performing arts regardless of my gender. The size of the actor's body changes depending on whether the actor exudes energy on the stage or swallows it inside, and the director believes that I can differentiate and express this with direction. I have a very large physique. I can't stand behind even when I'm standing side by side with men! Haha. Fortunately, I also find these attempts very interesting. The director said, “Ji Yeon, it's red this time. Make red whatever you want." So I'm excited to try this and that.
Director Lee Jina gave Ji Yeon a gender-blind role for the first time in 2017. It was a rare time to try a gender-blind casting. How did you feel when you first heard about it?
This was my first reaction. “What? (Silence)” Haha. The casting of male and female actors in one role was truly groundbreaking at the time. The reason why it felt more difficult for me to play the role of Wolha was because I had never played a bright character that had to relate so much to the audience.
Also, 정성화 Jeonng Seong Hwa, who was cast as well, was the number one comedian in Korea. Jeong Seong Hwa is an actor who can make the audience laugh by being up on stage, and I’d only played roles in making the audience feel serious, so I felt a lot of pressure. But at some point, I thought, "Yes, I'm not good at this. Let's be more active in doing what I can do." And that led me in a good way. My family said it was so nice to play a role where I’d say “uhhhhh” or “eusha, eusha” (Laughing) I really want to try it again when I get a chance.
How much pressure would you feel about being the first female actor to play Salieri? I don't think I'll be able to act based on gender, but what's your concern at this point a month before the performance?
There are times when there is sexual tension between Salieri and Constance in the play. As it is, Salieri should be attracted to Constanze as a man and a woman would. I'm still in the practice stage, so I'm careful to say it, but just because my character doesn't consciously reveal that he's a man, I don't want to express that emotion as a homosexual attraction. When I practice the scene in the practice room, my thinking is actually very simple. Salieri only thinks that she is talking to a beautiful woman. But thankfully, 이봄소리 Lee Bom Sori and 홍서영 Hong Seo Young, who play the role of Constanze, reacted naturally to it. These days, my nickname in the practice room is "여자 오빠 Girl Oppa". Haha. I'm making my own character without any difficulties. The big frame of the performance won't change. I'm looking forward to how the audience feels and accepts it.
“Amadeus” is a story that artists can easily relate to in terms of dealing with geniusness and jealousy. How did you feel when you read the script for this performance?
If you look around, there are people who seem to have been chosen by God. People who can only be described by saying that God gave them special blessings. “Why have I always felt so jealous of my fellow actors while performing?” Especially when I was young, it was hard to shake off such feelings to people close to me. That actor is good at performing with the talent that God has given him, and after the performance, I go home to FM University and do nothing and just read the script. What's wrong with him? I was so frustrated that I didn't have the talent that he had. Of course, those feelings can sometimes be a stimulus, but I was generally frustrated by why God made me like this. “Why not me!" (Laughs) But even if you're not an actor, you always crave for something you don't have, right? There are so many lines in the script that show exactly how that feels. The main characters are Mozart, a genius musician, and Salieri, his rival, but if you follow their story, you can relate to it as deeply as your own.
When I read past interviews, there are a lot of stories about confidence. There's nothing wrong with being full of confidence, but Ji Yeon, you must have always considered yourself lacking.
There's a famous line from Salieri in “Amadeus”. "Why did God only give me passion and talent?" When I was practicing the line in the scene in the practice room a while ago, director Jina laughed and joked. "Ji Yeon, God gave you passion and talent. God just didn't give you confidence." To be honest with you, I used to lack confidence to the point that others would think too much. Whenever I was working on a piece, I was always impatient and scared to see if I could do it. I don't know if it's bad for me and for others. But I felt like I was standing on the stage while doing "잃어버길 얼글 1895 The Lost Face of 1895″. During the performance, I felt like I was walking down one by one, and it was my first time feeling so stable on stage. Thinking about the reason for that, I didn't acknowledge my weaknesses and strengths in the past. So you can't help but lack confidence. Now I have the courage to look at myself properly. It's a big change in my life.
When I see Ji Yeon's performance, I feel like she's already pouring everything out on stage, but I think she might have used too much energy because she thinks she's not good enough.
Yes, there was such a sense of urgency. Since the audience came to see me, I thought I should bring out everything I had so that I wouldn't be able to show my lack of talent. And when I think about the process of the audience sitting in the audience, I don't want to fall short of that expectation. I went into the reservation site, bought tickets, and waited for the performance date. It takes a lot of money and a lot of effort to come to the theater and watch one performance. It's my iron rule to repay the audience with a performance that suits their precious sincerity. Sometimes, the staff tells me that if I sing like I'm throwing up everything, I won't be able to use my voice in two to three years. But even if I can't sing in two to three years, I don't want to be able to sing in moderation. I think we need to build up our intense efforts to get solid ticket power. Even if it's just a few people, there are always people who support who buy tickets.
Of all the works you've done so far, which one do you want to try again?
“The Madison County Bridge.” Usually, you don't easily think of me because of Francesca’s soft and calm character, right? I was very happy when I did that work. It's good to show the weak parts like the glass inside of me. It was also good to be able to do so-called life acting. It was so nice to be able to express emotions like excitement and longing with every word in everyday expressions. Before that, I only acted like I was going to spit fire! Haha. I've known the show for a long time since it debuted with 박은태 Park Eun Tae. He was worried when he first heard that I was cast. I was wondering how I should hold him. We're on the same wavelength. (Laughing) But after the performance, he said that, “You're the softest person amongst all the other actors, and I don't think people know that.” Am I really like that? Anyway, I think acting is a very interesting job. I keep discovering new aspects through my work.
If people around you only saw Cha Ji Yeon as a strong and stubborn person, I think Ji Yeon's attitude where she doesn't want to look weak would have played a part in that.
The most regrettable thing in my life is that I couldn't enjoy the flower-like youth we call our twenties. In a way, it was the most beautiful time of my life, and I wonder what it would have been like if I had done something for myself. In those days, I didn't have time for myself to feel the word “travel” as a luxury. If I didn't want to go far, but went to the nearby sea or mountains and looked back on myself, I would have gotten the courage to look at my lack of self more honestly, even if I was scared. It wouldn't have been hard to perform after a long trial and error, but it was sad. But on the other hand, I think I'm able to stand on stage because I've spent my 20s feeling very relaxed. I guess everyone has a life that suits themselves.
You said you finally gained a little confidence. What kind of dream do you have as an actor now?
Every time I finish a piece of work, I feel like it’s taking a piece of my life away. I want my career to have a long life, so I put my soul into every performance. Even if I can't participate again when the show is reproduced, I hope I can smell the scent of an actor. I want to be an actor who stays in the heart, not the head of the audience. Is there anything more valuable in an actor's life? Actors feel alive when they do that.
Promotional photos of Salieri for the 2020 Amadeus production featuring 지현준 Ji Hyun Jun, 김재범 Kim Jae Beom and 차지연 Cha Ji Yeon, photos courtesy of Page1 .
Promotional photos of Mozart for the 2020 Amadeus production featuring 최재웅 Choi Jae Woong, 강영석 Kang Young Seok, 백석광 Baek Seok Gwang, 김성규 Kim Sung Kyu and 박은석 Park Eun Seok, photos courtesy of Page1.
