Review: THE APOLOGY, Arcola Theatre

Photo credit: Ikin Yum

The Apology by Kyo Choi at the Arcola Theatre is a brave new play that shines a blinding spotlight on the horrific sex trafficking of Korean women during WWII by the Japanese government, otherwise conveniently coined as the ‘comfort women’ of the war. 

The narrative focuses on the story of one ‘comfort’ woman, Kim Sun-Lee, and how she was abducted by Japanese soldiers in Manchuria, under the guise of leaving home to become a nurse. She is interviewed by Priyanka Silva, who begins conducting an investigation into this unknown area for the UN, faced by the undermining misogynist American ‘diplomat’ Jock Taylor. 

Ria Parry’s direction is very clean, tight and purposeful. TK Hay’s clinically sparse space aids in this. There is a low table, a few chairs, and the entire set is made up of typed up letters, which becomes both the floor board and the wall. This space functions as both the UN officer’s interrogation room and the Korean families home, whose story the play focuses on.

A particularly moving and atmospheric moment sees the younger Sun-Lee, about 16 years old, performed sensitively by Jessie Baek, entering the stage in traditional South Korean dress, beginning to dance gently as though in her own bubble of peace and joy. It seems as though we see this innocent young girl prior to the trauma inflicted on her. She is watched in awe and fond memory by the  older ‘present day’ Sun-Lee, who gradually joins in with the dance. With no dialogue, this brief 30-second moment beautifully captures a theme that runs throughout the play: the inability to undo the immense trauma inflicted upon these women, the desire to return to a place of joy, and the almost impossible difficulty in doing this.

All performers are incredibly strong, truthful, sympathetic and deserve commendation. A particaly memorable scene is shared between Han Min (Kwong Loke) and his daughter Minhee Yeo (Han Yuna) as tension arises between the two as they mourn on the anniversary of Minhee’s mother’s death and lies begin to unravel.

The scenes are directed sensitively, with a restraint that runs as a thread throughout interactions between characters who are so close to telling each other the truth, to being able to truly connect, yet are held back by something impenetrable. This impending barrier to the truth is one that functions both politically and universally in the play, seen through the discussions of the horror of such political deceipt in shielding information from the public and is simultaneously made deeply personal through the secrecy in the family itself. The political and personal spheres become inseparable and are skillfully intertwined in the writing, direction, design and performance in this moving and impressive feat of theatre.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Viv Williams

The Apology plays at the Arcola Theatre until 8 October, with tickets available here.