Chapter 82
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Echoes of the Globe
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This is the main theater. Its not as big as youd think, right?
Yeah.
Jessica looked surprised at the surprisingly cozy interior of the theater.
But I just stared blankly at the stage and the seats.
Sure, there were some differences here and there, but I could tell at a glance that this was an effort to recreate the traditions of the Globe Theatre.
Oh, thats also to uphold the principles we championed when we rebuilt the Globe.
What principles?
When we reconstructed the Globe after it burned down, we didnt use any iron structures that are standard in modern buildings to recreate the original theater. The seats are all wood. And theres no sound system like mics or speakers. We stick to these traditions only for performances from May to October. Next week, theyll install the systems again.
Wow, another way to honor Shakespeare.
You could say that.
Listening to the managers explanation, my chest swelled with emotion at the feeling of those old traditions still alive.
It touched me that the descendants living in this modern era hadnt forgotten the Elizabethan age when I was active.
Without realizing it, I grabbed Jo Isus hand, squeezing his small one tightly.
Hey, Siu. That moving?
Yeah. Performing just like they did 400 years ago... its kinda cool.
Jo Isu, whod been whining that it hurt, nodded at my words.
Jessica, whod overheard our conversation, crouched down a bit and asked,
Siu, did you really want to come here that badly?
Yeah, I really wanted to see it.
I swallowed the again inside.
And understandably sothis was the Globe Theatre, returned to after 400 years.
Id spent so much time here with Shakespeare and Richard Burbage.
Their faces flashed vividly in my mindjoking around, sometimes locked in heated debates.
Thinking of them made a chuckle slip out involuntarily.
To think just coming here would do this to me.
I was glad in my heart that I hadnt come with my mother.
Id thought that being reborn as Han Siu, growing up under my mom and dad, had let me let go of any lingering attachment to this place.
But seeing my heart stir like this, I guess Id missed it after all.
Maybe... that place is still around too?
Manager. Where was the original site of this theater?
Weve got to satisfy our little actors curiosity properly. Hold on.
At my question, the manager brought an old map and a current one, explaining step by step.
This is where the original Globe Theatre stood. But after the fire destroyed the whole thing, they moved it here. Then the whole area around became known as the West End.
Ooh, ooh.
As she explained, I scanned the map, trying to guess where that place I so desperately wanted to find might be.
Ah, good.
It wasnt far from the relocated Globe.
With my heart floating high, one place naturally came to mind.
The Oscar Theater Troupe, where Id thrown myself into acting for the first time.
The place Id deliberately avoided thinking about until now, worried itd unsettle me.
Thanks so much for the tour. We should get going now.
Im the one whos gratefulJessicas autograph... Ill treasure it. Um, could we maybe take a photo together?
Having finished the tour, we were about to leave the theater.
The Globe didnt do evening shows this season, so we couldnt catch a performance, but it had been a very rewarding experience.
Id even learned where the Oscar Theater Troupe was.
Led by the excited manager, the staff whod been watching from afar all rushed over.
While they took photos with Jessica and Jo Isu held the camera, I quietly slipped away.
Itd take a while, so I figured Id quickly check out what had become of the Oscar Theater Troupe and come back.
The theater wasnt far.
It should be right at the end of that alley.
Originally, the street after this alley had been the main road.
Londons completely changed face left me with a bittersweet pang.
Used to Londons drizzly weather, I hurried along without an umbrella, letting the rain soak me.
As I neared the end of the alley, my heart pounded harder.
Just a bit more, a bit more.
Splash.
I quickly turned the corner at the alleys end.
Now, the entrance to the Oscar Theater Troupe should be right...
Damn.
Freedom Theatre
Seeing the sign, my heart sank, and I staggered a little.
This was definitely the place.
But instead of what I remembered, there was just a shabby old sign with a tacky name.
The buildings shape confirmed itthis was it.
Looking around, no doubt this was the building on this street.
Yet the name Oscar Theatre had vanished somewhere, replaced by Freedom.
No way...
I felt defeated, but at the same time, I couldnt help accepting it.
The Oscar Theater Troupe hadnt been around as long as other troupes or theaters.
After 400 years, it was only natural itd be gone.
Those three years that felt like a lifetime, staying by my side until my final moments.
The troupe Id shared that time with.
But now, I was no longer Noah Battenberg.
Not even his descendant.
Just Han Siu, a kid from the far Eastand the reality that I couldnt even trace remnants of my past filled me with bitterness, no, something deeper, a choking heaviness.
I clenched my trembling fist tight.
Maybe I shouldnt have checked.
Confirmed that my lifes work had vanished.
As regret and self-reproach welled up inescapably, the theaters entrance door burst open.
People started coming out.
From inside the Freedom Theatre, audience members emerged wiping tears.
Ahh, that was so good. Sniff, got any tissues?
Even seeing it again, its great. Glad you liked it.
Why didnt you tell me it was this sad and touching?
Couldnt you tell from the poster?
The Freedom Theatres show had just ended.
The surging crowd all dabbed at their eyes with tissues.
Murmuring about how moving the performance was, they scattered in groups for after-parties.
Watching them, I recalled the audiences leaving after my shows.
They mustve worn satisfied expressions just like these people.
Even now, this place was moving audiences.
The past and present were connected, unbroken.
Realizing that, I looked up at the Freedom Theatre sign Id dismissed as tacky.
Yeah, its not some other shopits still a theater, same spot.
Thats enough.
Though that naming sense is pretty awful.
I gave a small smile, shook my head once, and turned back toward the alley where the Globe was.
Come to think of it, my sudden disappearance mustve startled the other two.
Siu! Whered you go? You scared me.
Sure enough, Jo Isu, hastily holding an umbrella over my head, looked shocked.
Found him? Oh, Siu. Thought you were gone.
Jessica rushed over too, checking if I was okay.
Lost in past memories, Id forgotten about my companions for a moment.
Feeling sorry, I grinned sheepishly and mumbled an excuse.
Sorry. The streets are so big, I got lost while looking around...
No, but we found you quickthats what matters. If anything, Im more sorry. I got distracted.
Its fine.
Especially since I was the one who sneaked off.
In my mind, I apologized to Jessica once more.
No matter how she usually treated me like an equal, my sudden vanishing mustve freaked her out.
Felt like ten years shaved off my life. Shall we head back?
Yeah!
I answered Jo Isu briskly and started walking.
As we headed to the car, Jessica glanced around.
Even so, the direction you came from is off the main street... Howd you get all the way there with those short legs?
My legs are pretty long for my age.
Seriously, my heart dropped. I wont take my eyes off you, but please dont just vanish like that, Siu.
Got it, Jessica.
I nodded with a hehe grin.
Unlike the way here, sharing an umbrella with Jessica on the way to the car, she said in an excited tone,
Now that weve seen everything, lets grab something delicious.
Sounds good.
I hadnt eaten since practice ended, so her suggestion was very welcome.
Where to, Jessica?
Jo Isu, whod handle the driving, asked for the destination.
After a moments thought, Jessica exclaimed like shed had a great idea.
Theres a cool restaurant near the theater where were doing RUN. Lets go there.
Oh, got it.
Jo Isu nodded with a smile, clearly knowing the place.
I was curious too, but why wouldnt she say where?
Keum-kang-san-do see-ku-kyung. Right? Siu, is this a Korean proverb?
I burst out laughing at Jessicas awkward Korean and nodded.
Wonder where she picked that one up.
Yeah. So after we eat, wanna check out our theater too?
Of course. Our star actors here to see his stage, after all.
Haha, better hurry then.
The three of us chatted cheerfully and arrived at the restaurant Jessica mentioned.
Shed said it had great food, and turns out it was a Korean restaurant.
In England, the best food is foreign cuisine.
Jessica declared proudly as we entered the Korean place.
That evening, I filled my belly nicely with some long-overdue samgyeopsal.
A terrace seat by the gently flowing Thames.
Itd been almost a full month since arriving in England.
Half of November had already passed.
Not bitterly cold, but chilly enough by the river that Mom had bundled me up heavily today.
Stuffed in so many layers my arms felt stiff, I barely stretched one out to sip my tea.
Haha, Siu. You okay? Not uncomfortable?
Mm, Im good.
Today, our family was out sightseeing in London with Jo Isu.
The main show was just two days away now.
Jessica had given the troupewhod rushed straight from practicea day off to rest.
Tomorrow, wed switch to full main-performance mode.
Uncle and Mom, knowing I hadnt properly relaxed, had been looking forward to today.
Jo Isu, aware of that, volunteered as our guide.
Having stayed in England longer than our family, he knew the lay of the land and all the good spots, so we welcomed him warmly.
Mr. Isu, our Siu... um, he wont face any discrimination from the audience, right? I worry every time he goes to practice, being the only Asian there.
Mom seemed anxious about the upcoming show in various ways.
Practice was one thing, but soon hed be standing as the lead before a crowd of Brits.
His age and the big stage were secondary; above all, she fretted endlessly about anti-Asian bias.
Living here a month, shed faced it subtly herself.
She feared her young son might endure the same.
...Haha, ha. Hell be fine, maam. Sius just that good.
I knew why Jo Isu hesitated for a split second, so I quietly sipped my tea.
From that first day introducing himself in the rehearsal room, hed heard Gordons tirade.
Hmm? Really?
Oh no.
Mom had caught that fleeting hesitation in Jo Isus reply.