Actor Kwak Do-won, who stirred controversy due to drunk driving, is making a comeback to theater after three years. With this comeback, the words of director Kwak Kyung-taek, who worked with him in 'The Firefighter', have resurfaced, and discussions about his return are expected to intensify.
The theater company Ttoitmaru and the National Theater have announced the casting for the play 'A Streetcar Named Desire', which will be performed from Oct. 9 to 10 at the National Theater Daloreum Theater in Jung-gu, Seoul.
According to the casting, Kwak Do-won is included among the cast. Kwak Do-won plays the role of 'Stanley', an embodiment of desire and violence. 'Blanche', a victim of hope and desire, will be played by Song Seon-mi and Han Da-dam in a double cast, while 'Stella' will be played by Oh Jung-yeon, and 'Mitch' will be played by Bae Gi-seong.
It has been about three years since Kwak Do-won last took the stage. He was charged with drunk driving in September 2022 and was briefly prosecuted for violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving), receiving a summary order of 10 million won.
At that time, Kwak Do-won was caught sleeping in his vehicle on a road in Bongseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju. His blood alcohol concentration at the time was reported to exceed the threshold for license cancellation, and Kwak Do-won, who caused a social controversy, received a temporary suspension from appearing on KBS broadcasts. After being advised to refrain from KBS appearances due to a 'Me Too' controversy, Kwak Do-won was once again placed on the list of restrictions.
The controversy surrounding Kwak Do-won also affected the works he appeared in. Amid criticism against him, the release of the movie 'The Firefighter', in which he starred, was indefinitely postponed. Finally released in December last year, 'The Firefighter' attracted 3.85 million viewers and received favorable reviews.
However, Kwak Do-won was excluded from promotional events such as the production briefing and press conference related to 'The Firefighter'. As he anticipated a comeback through this work, he spent a time of self-reflection while being excluded from promotional schedules. In particular, director Kwak Kyung-taek publicly criticized Kwak Do-won regarding the drunk driving controversy, stating, "He needs to take greater responsibility. It is very despicable and resentful."
Meanwhile, 'A Streetcar Named Desire' is a work by American playwright Tennessee Williams from 1947, which has also been adapted into a film. It depicts the stark social realities of the American South in the early 20th century, showcasing the conflicts between human desire and failure, hope and reality, while showing the destructive risks of desire, but also presenting the possibility of hope and solidarity, making it a timeless masterpiece that captures the audience's emotions.
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