Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Casting Success
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Parents are coming today? You didnt say a word about this yesterday, man!
Kim Sangcheol could fully grasp what it meant to lose his mind and jump out of his skin.
Hed spent the entire previous day mulling it over.
Kang Yonghwis eye for talent was something even he had to admit was sharp.
So when that same Kang Yonghwi stepped up to cast the kid, part of him thought, Maybe I should check it out...
But still...
Age was the issue.
No, no way. Not even a fifth-grader. Five years old? One slip on stage and its a disaster. Get it together, Kim Sangcheol.
In the end, hed come to work agonizing over how to back out of the casting.
And now the kid himself was on his way here, parents in tow.
Kim Sangcheol plopped down in the theater owners office chair and tilted his head back.
He took deep breaths to tamp down the frustration bubbling up to the top of his head when he heard Kang Yonghwis nonchalant voice.
Ill handle the logistics. That cool, bro?
You shouldve done it from the start, you punk!
He was about to snap at him out of sheer exasperation.
Knock knock
The door opened, and a small, cute face peeked inside the office.
Oh, youre Dongwooks sister? Im Kim Sangcheol, owner of this theater troupe.
Im the director, Kang Yonghwi.
Our Dongwooks been in your debt.
The next day, Mom came straight to Emergency Iron 777 with me.
Dad had closed up shop to come along too.
Brimming with excitement at the thought that things were finally falling into place, I grabbed Dads hand and skipped into the office.
Uncle trailed behind us, looking flustered.
Siu, say hi.
Hewwo.
I greeted them as Dad instructed and hopped up onto the sofa to settle in.
Huh, not bad cushioning.
Not quite as comfy as our couch at home, though.
Pat pat.
I drummed energetically on the leather sofa.
Meanwhile, Mom, Dad, and Uncle sat facing theater owner Kim Sangcheol and director Kang Yonghwi.
I was finally meeting the head of this oddly named troupe, Emergency Iron 777.
The name was so weird Id wondered what kind of guy ran the place.
From the moment I walked in, his eyes hadnt left me.
Not your average joe.
I eyed his toad-like face warily, steeling myself.
Whyre you starin, toad-man?
Haha, so youre Siu.
Hes cuter than I thought, right? Perfect, Im telling you.
Kim Sangcheol shoved Kang Yonghwis smirking mug aside and stood up.
No refreshments to offer... Heh heh. How about some tea while we chat?
He set down the quickly fetched teacups and looked at my parents across from him.
Hmm. His smile looked oddly forced.
Haha, ha. Your kids handsome as can be.
Thank you.
But... you mightve heard, we havent officially decided on casting Han Siu yet. I just heard from Director Kang myself. Ha ha, sorry you came all this way...
What?
Kim Sangcheol dropped that bombshell and glanced at Kang Yonghwi beside him.
Yeah, you say something!
I believe in Siu.
Kang Yonghwi cleared his throat and spoke up.
Good man. Thats right. A director needs conviction.
But Kim Sangcheols expression remained uneasy.
From the way he was glaring at Kang Yonghwi after that solid statement...
Looks like he hadnt convinced the theater owner yet.
Wed barely eased my parents worries, and now this wildcard.
Ha, haha... No, Director Kang. I dont know this kid well enough yet?
Its fine. Trust me?
No! Even so, this kid...! Ah, haha. Sorry about this, folks.
Hmm, did we come too early?
Mom finally spoke up.
Oh no.
If things kept going like this, the opportunity wed scraped together would slip away.
I whipped my head toward Uncle.
Then toward director Kang Yonghwi.
Just yesterday, theyd acted like theyd put me on stage right then.
I let out a deep sigh and opened my mouth.
Wanna see?
No choice.
Id have to step up myself.
Siu?
Mom called out in surprise.
Dad, your eyes are gonna pop out.
And the man in question, Kim Sangcheol, was the most shocked.
Right now? Here?
No need for long talk.
I shot up and marched right over to Kim Sangcheol.
Why do I gotta watch the house!
I yelled right in the theater owners face.
All eyes flew to me and stuck.
Perfect opening salvo.
A true actor knows how to seize the room.
Basking in their stunned gazes, I bowed my head low.
Id snuck peeks at the script plenty of times when Uncle was in the bathroom.
Id wondered why he kept muttering those not-so-long lines, so Id checked it out.
The script turned out more fun than expected.
Maybe thats why it was already memorized in my head.
Id memorized Shakespeare plays back in the daythis much dialogue was nothing.
Hic, hic. Pwease... pwease, Daddy. Youngsull be good.
I wailed like a tantrum, then tears streamed down.
A voice soaked in fear.
The desperation of a child terrified his dad might really leave him behind.
In the play, this kid Youngsu pulls every trick to stop his dad from heading to the protest site.
Love for his father.
The script made it crystal clear what Youngsus role demanded.
Im still wittle. Youre not weaving me... right, Daddy?
Big teardrops plopped down at the end.
I clutched Kim Sangcheols pant leg tight and looked up at him.
My huge eyes brimming with tears, amplifying the plea.
If this didnt sway him, the guy didnt deserve to run a theater.
Hed be walking around with buttons for eyes.
No point acting under a hack like that anyway.
......
......
Phew, its hot.
I wiped nonexistent sweat from my forehead and returned to my seat.
Then I took a sip of my tea.
Slurp.
Hm, different aroma from ours at home.
I set the teacup down with a clink, and only then did Kim Sangcheol snap out of it, jerking his head up.
Ahem, ahem!
Whats his deal.
I grabbed my teacup again before it cooled.
Puffed on it and slurped. Pretty decent flavor.
Why was everyone so quiet?
Their tea was getting cold too.
I pouted in annoyance when Kim Sangcheol slurped his down in a hurry, slammed his cup down hard.
Straightened up and stared straight at me.
Oh ho.
I straightened my back at the look in his eyes.
Doubts finally cleared.
Now sparkling with curiosity instead.
You! No, no. Siu. Ever taken acting lessons?
No, we havent made him do anything.
Mom snapped to and answered for me.
Right. Unlike Battenberg days, no tutors by age fivehow could I have learned acting?
Still, that was a relief.
Past life, unwanted tutors dogged my every step.
Oh, really?
Surprised?
Ahem, ahem!
Kim Sangcheol cleared his throat again at Kang Yonghwis cheeky question.
Dont we need more tea?
Whys he coughing so much?
I started to scoot away when Kim Sangcheol turned back to me.
Then, whod you copy?
Copy?
Yeah. You said you watched practice yesterday. Did you imitate that?
Mom and Dads curious gazes joined in.
Nope.
I shook my head firmly.
Copy that lousy acting?
Me?
Ridiculous.
Hmm.
Kim Sangcheol stroked his chin thoughtfully at my answer.
Thats right. What Siu saw yesterday wasnt that tone at all.
Not? Whos playing that role?
Lee Insu.
Ah.
Kim Sangcheol nodded immediately at the name from Kang Yonghwi.
That guy wouldnt act like that.
Exactly. Its innate talent, Im telling you.
Quiet, you! So Siu. Did you read the script, understand it, interpret it or something?
Uh-uh! Nada.
Whats he on about.
I nodded like it was obvious, and Kim Sangcheols jaw dropped.
Satisfying sight.
No actor dives in without interpreting the script.
That thrill of sinking into a scriptsame in past life or this one.
Phew.
But I regretted answering so quick.
Siu, right here. Whatd you think of this line?
If Daddy goes to pwothest, he gets hurt. I hate that. So I stop him.
I answered instantly at the line Kim Sangcheol pointed to.
So much more to say, but this was the best with my current Korean vocab.
Earlier scene: Little Youngsu hears neighbors came back crippled from the protest.
What kid sends their dad to that?
Unless they harbored massive grudges.
And a child under ten feeling that? Tough.
Exactly. Thats it. Then this one?
Youngsu: (Crying out) Why do I gotta watch the house!
The line at Kim Sangcheols fingertip.
I tilted my head and replied.
Home alone? Thats fine. Dont care. Home alone means TV all to myself, lotsa watching. Good. But Daddy goes out, gets hurt. Thats why.
Thats it! Exactly, Siu!
Eek.
Moms eyes sharpened at the TV bit.
Big trouble.
Might lose the remote today.
Why grill me like this?
As if I spat lines clueless.
I glared at Kim Sangcheol as questions kept flying.
He was too hyped to stop.
Wow, maam, sir. Sius amazing. Only five? Grasping context like a pro adult actor. Thirty-plus years in this biz, first time Ive seen this.
Adult actor level?
Our Siu?
Mom and Dad blinked at each other, caught off guard.
Adult actor caliber.
Id worried briefly at his toadish glare, but yeahhead of a troupe.
Sharp eye.
This is real talent. Deliverys top-notch too.
Really?
Dads face lit up at the talent praise.
Glanced overMom recovering from shock, not bad expression.
Done deal.
I clenched my fists.
But...
Uh, Mom!
I watched anxiously as she spoke in a serious tone.
Heart pounding, clutching it, waiting.
Our Sius still only five. The schedule wont be too grueling, will it? Looks like decent dialogue load...
I shot a glare at the theater owner.
Answer straight.
Ease Moms worries.
Oh, no worries there. Shows a month out still. Even after opening, weve got other productions, so just four times a week, once a day. Well accommodate Siu however to keep it easy.
Good job.
With the theater owner on board, things moved fast.
Thats a relief.
Siu, it worked out?
Yup!
And so, Id join rehearsals starting tomorrow.
Talks wrapped, Kang Yonghwi pulled a fresh script from a big drawer and handed it over.
Pweople in the Toppy House.
I took it and read the cover title slowly.
Kim Sangcheol grinned at the sound.
Welcome to the attic house.
The next day.
Holding Uncles hand, I entered the practice room.
Felt familiar after one visit.
Wow!
But today, something new loomed in the center I hadnt seen before.
What I thought was a podium was pouring torch-like intense light from a giant pillar!
Uncwe. Whats dat?
Thats a standing light. For brightly illuminating the stage. Guess were using it in practice today.
Wight?
Haha, light. Lighting.
Wight!
Impressive progress.
I stared at the shiny new torch with sparkling eyes.
Not hot even up close.
Warmth, sure, but nothing like a real torch.
What a magical thing.
I circled in front of the light when a low voice came from behind.
Youre Siu, huh?
Whos this?
Turned to see a young man.
Aura hit you instantlyimpressive.
As I eyed him curiously, another actor revealed his identity.
Whoa, our leads here?
Figured as much.
Even in a small troupe, the protagonists the protagonist.
