GalaxyTL
We Are the Flames: An Exclusive Pre-Show Interview with Troupe Spark!
Q: Hello!
A (Troupe Spark): Hello!
Q: Troupe Spark is really in the spotlight lately. How do you feel about all the attention?
A (Jang Geonho): To be honest, for those of us preparing for the stage, we don’t get much of the outside news. But I think our youngest cast member is somewhat aware of it.
Q: By "youngest," you mean Kim Donghu, right? How does he know about it?
A (Kim Donghu): Ah, it’s probably because of my agency. Veritas handles a lot of the off-stage aspects.
Q: Can I ask again, then—do you feel the heat of all this attention?
A: The phone’s been ringing non-stop, apparently. Our director could probably use his dark circles to jump rope at this point.
Q: Haha, I see. Moving on—how did Troupe Spark come about?
A (Bong Jinwoo, noticing all eyes on him): Oh, well... I honestly didn’t expect it to grow this big. Everyone here is just so incredible; I just got up the courage to try it, really.
Q: Courage?
A (Kim Donghu): On the first day of school, he suddenly grabbed me and handed me a script, brimming with confidence and gesturing like this (mimics grand hand movements).
A: (everyone bursts out laughing)
Q: So all this started from one member joining the troupe?
A (Bong Jinwoo): Yes, yes…you could say that.
Q: When did you start thinking of doing a play for children?
A: I wanted to create something for kids right from the planning stage.
Q: From the start? So this was a vision you had even before Troupe Spark was born?
A: That’s right.
Q: Wow, a play for children! I’m really looking forward to it.
A: Please do! We hope to see you in the theater next week!
Q: Haha, shall we continue right along? Next question!…
The interview was quickly shared across fan forums as soon as the full transcript was released.
Initially, it started as simple questions about the production and its intentions, along with some light updates from the actors and brief introductions to their roles.
Fans eagerly soaked up the details they’d been curious about, yet a strange dilemma emerged.
—When can we buy tickets? I really want to watch this show!
—Isn’t the first show just for kids? I wanna be a kid too, dang it...
—The intent is so noble, I can’t even complain.
—I’ve got the money, but I can’t book tickets—what’s with that!?
Despite the promotional efforts, the intended audience of young children didn’t actually see the promotion. After all, how would they seek out a full interview transcript?
With most attendees being no older than middle schoolers, accessing information was a challenge. Meanwhile, die-hard fans already knew the details backward and forward. Unable to see their favorite actors, they could only feel increasingly restless.
However, Choi Seokho noticed this issue right away. Glancing over the interview notes, he resumed the meeting.
“Let’s prioritize weekday performances for children, and reserve weekends for general audiences.”
“Yes, I agree. Children have more availability on weekdays.”
“Since we have to show it to the waiting kids first, the initial week will be exclusively for them.”
“Then, the second week would be children on Wednesday through Friday, with general audiences on Saturday and Sunday?”
“Yes, that’s right. We’ll go with that schedule for the first two weeks, then start mixing the audience in the third week.”
“Understood.”
Adjusting the schedule to allow the public quick access to viewings maintained the excitement and interest around Troupe Spark.
"Once the show gets going, it’s impossible for word not to spread."
Though he’d only been able to attend a single rehearsal due to his schedule, Choi Seokho felt that The Story of Stars and Moon was the most compelling play he had ever seen.
With the days passing swiftly, the debut of Troupe Spark was on the horizon.
Children Are Pure.
Without prejudice or preconceived notions, they view the world and offer only sincere, truthful reactions.
But that very innocence sometimes makes them grow up too quickly. When the world they see doesn’t allow room for naïveté, they strive to mature faster than anyone else.
They neither seek candy nor sweets but instead focus on aligning with reality, endlessly pondering what their best course of action might be.
And their conclusions are often…
“It’d be better to take on an extra shift instead of watching this.”
“Still, the director told us to come, so let’s just keep our mouths shut, okay?”
“I mean, honestly, yeah. I get Jinwoo hyung is directing, but how is this gonna help us?”
Their minds were occupied with how to alleviate the hardships of their lives.
The children, like Bong Jinwoo, were orphans. They were on their way, courtesy of shuttle buses provided by the Arts Center.
“What’s the point of watching if we don’t even know who’s who?”
“But you at least know Kim Donghu, right?”
“I know who he is, but I have no clue what he actually does. Just another handsome actor, I guess.”
Since the TV at the orphanage was usually controlled by the younger kids, the older children usually watched what was available.
“This time would be better spent watching Power Rangers or Kamen Rider and getting ready for work.”
“Hey, quit complaining! Jinwoo oppa created this play!”
“Yeah, I know. I’m only going because of him. If it weren’t for Jinwoo hyung, I would’ve ditched, too.”
Despite their chatter, the orphanage kids carried a huge sense of anticipation for the play. They didn’t know much, but the idea of a play featuring famous actors was, naturally, intriguing.
It felt like a taste of luxury, something they thought they could never experience.
The middle schooler who had started grumbling about wanting to work more hours, Lee Jinseok, tried to keep his smile in check, feigning indifference.
“I wonder how fun this’ll be.”
With that growing excitement, he blinked a few times, and before he knew it, the stage was before his eyes.
“…It’s huge.”
Was this what they called an opera theater? It was a jaw-dropping size.
Rumor had it that at least 2,000 people could easily be seated here. And to think Jinwoo hyung was directing on such a grand stage!
“I want to scream out and brag about this!”
Jinseok restrained the urge to tell everyone around him that his “brother” was the director of this play.
With all the children gathered, the opera theater was buzzing. Even the orphanage caretakers struggled to keep things under control.
Then, all at once, the lights began to dim. Recognizing it as a signal to quiet down, the room grew still.
And then it happened.
“Why must we live gazing at the stars and the moon?”
A narrator’s voice filled the theater, and the curtains rose.
“This is dull.”
The Little Prince appeared.
With a dazzling crown, a red cape, and a royal robe adorned with gleaming jewels, his outfit could easily seem over-the-top. Yet no one paid attention to the costume.
How can a person be that handsome?
Usually, when the lights dim at the start of a play, timid children might begin to cry.
But even those kids forgot to cry, captivated by the Little Prince before them.
The word “handsome” was often used when describing attractive people. Typically, one would add further descriptors about which features were appealing, how certain parts were charming, and so on.
Yet for these children, no further elaboration was needed. Handsome sufficed.
Though there was no light specifically illuminating his face, it was as if an ethereal glow surrounded the Little Prince.
“Wow.”
The children let out small gasps of admiration. He wasn’t doing much, merely gazing at the audience after declaring his boredom. A sword at his hip was the only unusual detail they noticed.
It was as if their dream prince had materialized right in front of them.
“Have our kids ever been this quiet?”
Even the orphanage directors were astonished. They’d never realized one face could command such silence.
“It’s too dull to stay on this tiny asteroid. Why am I confined to such a small place?”
As the Little Prince spoke, a middle-aged man dressed as a massive tree entered the stage. With his comically dumb expression and foolish gestures, a few kids broke into giggles, marking the start of Jin Myungtae’s performance as the Foolish Tree.
“It’s small here? I think it’s way too big! Look! I’m growing tall!”
“That’s because you’re consuming everything around you.”
“Huh? I don’t care! Eating and sleeping are the best! That’s the most fun!”
Perfect vocal delivery. Even his whispered lines reached the very back of the audience.
The Foolish Tree continued expressing his desire to grow, like a child throwing a tantrum, wanting what he wanted without a care for his surroundings.
Seeing this, the Little Prince sighed deeply.
“Fine, just keep living like that. I’m leaving.”
The Little Prince was weary of his repetitive existence. He longed for the world outside, convinced it held something greater.
And then—
“Leaving? Leaving here? If you leave… what about me?”
A rose with flushed petals appeared on stage.