Last Friday, on September 6, Korea’s leading musical theater company EMK portrayed the resilient and vivid life of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo through their two-hour-long performance titled “Frida: The Last Night Show.” The show, sponsored by Vision and Voices, USC School of Dramatic Arts, and Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles (KCCLA), was the first showcase in the U.S. and attracted more than 800 attendees.
Frida Khalo, although well known for her bold self-portraits and revolutionary paintings, suffered from extreme physical pain throughout her life. In addition to contracting polio as a child, she encountered a nearly fatal bus accident at 18, which led to several broken bones, a fractured spine, and a shattered pelvis. This led to nearly 30 surgeries throughout Frida’s life.
Sophy Jiwon Kim, the producer of “Frida: The Last Night Show” describes, “Frida went through unimaginable pain since the beginning of her life, but…she was not defined by her pain, and was a bright and at times, humorous person. We hope that the show will provide comfort to the audience. That is why we chose to produce the show.”
The performance, which featured explosive vocals performances, heart-wrenching stories, and comedic audience interactions, deserved a standing ovation. All actors, including lead actress Sohyang Sophie Kim, communicated deep emotions through their candid acting.
In particular, some scenes that shifted the mood of the crowd included the miscarriage scene, where Frida transitions from a joyful celebratory lullaby sung to her child, to an outburst of anguish following the tragic news. Coupled with audio of the ER doctors operating on Frida and alerting siren sounds, tension and heaviness filled the room.
The set and lighting also worked seamlessly with the musical to emphasize important cues, such as power relations. When Frida first meets her husband, Diego Rivera, the audience learns of his unquestionable status and lust for women that will soon doom his relationship with Frida. In this scene, Diego does not appear in front of the audience. Instead, his shadow is projected on the curtain while he stands on a staircase looming over Frida. Incorporating humor, the shadow also consistently shoots hand shaped hearts at Frida and the audience members, showing his uncontrollable attraction to various women.
Particularly interesting to note is the show’s incorporation of elements reminiscent of K-pop and K-drama elements. Throughout the show, the four all female cast members engage in synchronized, charismatic choreography. Further, the musical’s storytelling leads to emotional catharsis and features complex, well developed characters that engage in rich dialogue, characteristics that international audiences may compare to K-drama..
The visual and emotional impact of “Frida” was astonishing, to say the very least. Not only does the storytelling evoke deep sympathy for Frida, it also motivates the audience to maintain resilience in their many trials. For K-pop fans and international broadway lovers alike, the show transcends language barriers and delivers an emotionally healing experience. Perhaps following a K-pop and K-drama frenzy over the last few years, Korean musicals may soon thrive in the international market.