Sex, drugs and lying friends

The feeling of loneliness is no stranger to anyone, particularly expats. For us, old family and friends are literally half a world away. Artists at Probationary Theatre can relate; they are no strangers to friends who have gone separate ways for one reason or another. 

This July, they will put on the play "Gaucho" by Doug Lucie. The play will feature an impressive cast — some familiar faces on the White Box stage, along with some newcomers. 

“Gaucho” focuses on the relationship between four university friends and their 20-year reunion. Throughout the play, the audience discovers that no one is really as they seem. “Not one character in this play is likeable. But vehemently hating everyone on stage can make for an enjoyable night of theater,” said artistic director Desiree Munro, who will play Louise. 

Natalia Park — playing Yana in the show — agrees with Munro. “I like the fact that, even though this is a situation that most of the audience members will probably never be in, everyone will identify with at least one, if not more, of the characters. The writing is very realistic, dark and incisive. It captures all of the human flaws and twisted motives.” “Gaucho” follows the story of Declan Moss, an Oxford University graduate who has become one of the world's biggest drug smugglers. Even though at times we see the toll the drug business has taken on his psyche, Moss still holds rigidly to what he believes in and feels he is trying to change the world. Bringing him to life is a newcomer to the Korean stage, Jason Cutler. 

Cutler said he enjoyed the “biting, uncompromising humor and the anarchistic world view.”

Director Robert Jay Moore is not quite a new face at White Box, having written and directed several of the Play in a Day pieces as well as being previously involved in the local improv troupe Seoul City Improv. However, this will be his first play directed on the main stage for Probationary Theatre. 

“I chose this play because of the characters,” he said. “Each and every one of them is so much deeper than you may think at first. Each character goes through a sort of unraveling throughout the play where we get to see their darkest sides and dirtiest secrets.” 

Moore said he doesn’t have a favorite character. “It sounds cliché, but I can’t pick just one. Without one of them, the play would be useless. Lucie did a fantastic job of revealing all the inner workings of each character that kept me on the edge of my seat when I read it.”

For whoever may get bored of character development, don’t worry. “Gaucho” also features plenty of dirty action as well. “It injects theater with sex, drugs, violence and bad language. If modern theater is supposed to represent modern times, why aren’t we seeing more plays like this?” said Munro.

Directions

White Box Theatre is a 3-minute walk from Hyochang Park subway station, line 6, exit 2. 

Details

“Gaucho” will be performed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from July 13 to July 22. Tickets are 15,000 won.

Tickets

For advanced ticket bookings and more information, visit the Probationary Theatre website, www.probationarytheatre.com.