Good supporting characters are like a pinch of salt and pepper, added to make a drama more enjoyable, touching and complete.
Yang Hee-kyeong has been one of the most sought-after supporting actresses for the past two decades and an essential ingredient to many dramas and films. She has proven her acting capabilities in such works as "Super Rookie (Sinip Sawon)" in 2005, "Be Strong, Geum-Soon! (Kusseora Kumsuna)" in 2005 and "Sang Doo! Let's go to school (Sangduya Hakkyogaja)" in 2003.
Although her round face and ample figure probably kept her from playing lead roles in soap operas, Yang has often stood at the center of the theater stage. She was always a bigger presence at the theater than on TV or on the screen.
Yang debuted as a stage actress in 1985 and gave a critically acclaimed performance in the monodrama "An Old Prostitute's Song" in 1995, which endowed her with the best performance award at the 19th Seoul Theater Festival.
The 51-year-old actress will again take the stage alone as the heroine of "An Old Prostitute's Song", which she performed for seven months in Seoul and made a year-long nationwide tour 10 years ago.
The drama, based on the novel of the same title by Song Ki-won, is about a middle-aged prostitute in the port city of Mokpo in South Cholla Province, who tells her story of how she has ended up with the job and her perspective on prostitution.
"I had this strong feeling that 'This woman must be a sage', when I let go of my preconceptions about the heroine's occupation", Yang said in a recent interview with a local media.
"The story has an enormous power in it". The 10-year hiatus, however, gives Yang a different feeling in approaching the character.
"When I played the role, I wanted to hug her and pat her on the back. But this time, I want to be hugged by her and take comfort from her about the hard times I have faced in my life", Yang said. "I think it shows the change in myself".
Yang considered "An Old Prostitute's Song" as a breakthrough role a decade ago. At that time, she was about to get bored of acting as she had been repeatedly asked to perform similar characters on TV. "Without this play, I would have looked for another job, I got so tired of acting", Yang said. "It was a tonic for my life and I was recharged as an actress". Besides her veteran acting skills, Yang will show off her powerful singing voice, which she inherited much like her older sister, singer Hee-eun. Yang will sing eight songs in the play.
"An Old Prostitute's Song" is the fifth play of the "Actress" series by PMC Productions, famous for the non-verbal percussion performance "Nanta". Six celebrated local stage actresses, including Yoon Suk-hwa, Son Sook and Kim Seong-nyeo, have taken turns to appear on the stage since February.
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