KMK: Nanta in Seoul

I enjoy live shows. Whether it’s theater, a concert, or comedy performance I’ll book a seat, settle down, and enjoy the show. Sadly, I haven’t been able to do that recently, but that changed when my employer secured tickets for the teachers to see the Korean show Nanta.

If you’ve been in Korea for any amount of time you’ve had to have heard about Nanta. It’s one of the top Korean shows. It combines drama, comedy, dance, music, and even acrobatics into one super sized performance. Usually four out of five people you ask have seen it. If you’re that one odd man out then you need to find the closest performance and check it out immediately.

The show, in Seoul, is held at a number of different locations. The one I saw took place at the Designer’s Club in Apgujeong. There are different “teams” of actors that perform the shows: red, blue, black, purple, orange, white, green, and yellow. Each team has pre-designated roles the actors play. The Manager is the guy in charge who runs the restaurant and ensures everything is being done on time and correctly.  The Head Chef is the lead chef who keeps everyone else in line. The Sexy Guy, is the third in charge and who oozes machismo. The Nephew is the newcomer to the kitchen whose uncle is the Manager. Then there’s Hot Sauce. She’s the spicy, kitchen temptress who wears the mid-drift apron.

The theater itself is small, possibly able to seat about one hundred or so people. At first, the only people in the audience were all the teachers from Gangnam, but that changed as folks started to fill in. The show starts with a percussion driven drum session. The actors tumble, jump and dance across the stage banging on kitchen appliances, implements, and dishes. I’ll warn you now that the show is predominantly non-verbal. There’s some Korean that doesn’t really need to be translated to be understood and there’s also a smattering of English.

Once the opening number is over the conflict begins! The manager surprises his chefs with a wedding banquet they need to prepare by a 6 pm deadline. A ticking clock on the stage counts down the scant 90 minutes they have to complete the exhaustive menu. If that wasn’t hard enough the Manager’s Nephew gets assigned to their kitchen. He’s a bumbling dope and they have to show him the ropes or earn the ire of the Manager.

I have to say that I went into the theater a skeptic, but I became a convert quickly. Nanta brings together slapstick comedy, acrobatics, dance, and music with an easy going manner and light touch. It’s all about entertainment and making you laugh without any overdone costumes, fancy props, or funny French songs. They even go a step further by involving the audience in elaborate pranks, stunts, and routines that kept everyone clapping and asking for more.

Nanta truly is one of the best shows happening in Seoul. It’s even gone across the globe to play in other countries. Once you’ve seen it you’ll understand why. I plan on seeing it again in a few weeks myself.