Korean Troupe Returns to Southland

The dynamic Korean drum and dance group Samul-Nori returned to the Southland after an absence of three years and this time brought some friends to show another aspect of Korean culture.

The Samul-Nori quartet--Duk Soo Kim, Kwang Soo Lee, Jong Sil Choi and Min Seok Kang--once again displayed dazzling drumming and footwork at a concert Thursday at the Japan America Theatre. They again impressed with twirling ribbons attached to their hats to form halos and serpentine shapes in the air.

But with the addition of six dancers and puppeteers to form a namsadang --or traveling players--group, this visit included traditional farces that for centuries have served up entertainment and social criticism to rural Koreans.

A Westerner could only marvel at the lively world view that encompasses so fluently and unneurotically the opening consecrating prayers and rituals and the ensuing dance-theater skits that relied for satire and humor on offensive body odor or pent-up sexual frustration.

Namsadang is nothing if not broad, earthy comedy.

Because each character wears a symbolically colored mask, however, one can interpret the action beyond the literal. So when the white-faced young concubine thrusts her backside into the face of the black-faced old wife, one can view the act as the symbolic victory of summer over winter. Honest.

And there was no reason to look for hidden meanings in the puppet play when a naked, red-body figure expressed the irrepressible human spirit and his contempt for the aristocrats by urinating.

Unfortunately, the non-Korean-speaker lost out on most of the meaning of the rapid-fire exchanges between the puppet figures and the musicians. Reportedly, the dialogue included clever puns and topical humor, but a poor Westerner could only sit frustrated as much of the audience reacted with laughter.