Actress Kim Hira has made a stunning return with the musical "Frida."
During the first performance of the musical "Frida," held at the Seoul NOL Uniplex 1 on the 18th, Kim Hira perfectly depicted the fiery life of the artist "Frida Kahlo" with her exceptional acting skills and explosive vocal talent, receiving a warm round of applause from the audience.
The musical "Frida" is a show musical that unfolds the last years of "Frida Kahlo," who, after an accidental misfortune, lived in pain for the rest of her life yet sublimated it into art while not losing the joy of life. It captures the last moments of the passionate artist Frida Kahlo, who boldly faced darkness, presenting a message of passion for life and healing discovered through suffering through her message of "VIVA LA VIDA!"
Returning to the stage two years later, Kim Hira, continuing from the previous season, expressed the intersecting narratives of Frida's pain and passion with deepened acting skills. In a stage presented in an interview show format, Kim Hira overwhelmed the stage with her fluid diction, solid vocal strength, and concentration that captivated the entire performance. Throughout the uninterrupted 110 minutes, she conveyed Frida's tumultuous life story to the audience with a detailed acting spectrum that captured various emotions finely and intense feelings.
In particular, Kim Hira poignantly portrayed Frida's deeply scarred life through the artistic expression of her childhood traffic accident, her divorce and remarriage with husband Diego, and her miscarriage. In the latter half, she maximized the stage's immersion through intense solo performances reminiscent of modern dance, with impromptu ad-libs creating subtle laughter and numbers that seemed to express grief through her body brought tears to the audience's eyes.
Despite being a weekday matinee performance, Kim Hira filled the seats, proving both the artistic quality and commercial success of the production. Her dazzling return, perfectly embodying Frida's life, which did not let go of joy amid suffering, left a deep resonance.
After the first performance, Kim Hira said, "It is an honor to be able to stand on stage again as the respected figure 'Frida' after two years." She added, "As I acted out Frida's life, I also received a lot of energy and courage, so this time I wanted to return that courage to the audience. Like Frida, who expressed her wounds through art and love, I hope you all feel that you are already shining in your own ways."
Meanwhile, Kim Hira became embroiled in controversy following reports of bullying allegations in September 2023, and her agency later clarified, "We met with the parties involved, took time to sort out long memories, and decided to support each other's lives," closing the chapter on the controversy.
The musical "Frida," where you can experience Kim Hira's overwhelming performance, will be staged at the Seoul NOL Uniplex 1 until Sept. 7.
[Photo] Gram Entertainment
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