A scene from the French original musical “Don Juan,” returning to Korea after 19 years. Courtesy of Mast International

Don Juan is an aristocratic young man who lives as he pleases, following his heart and his desires wherever they lead. Arrogant and full of confidence, he lives a hedonistic life, chasing only physical pleasure. . Despite the heartfelt advice of his friends and father, he refuses to change his way of life and instead laughs at others. “Whether it’s a flower of evil or a lily, they both wither all the same,” he sings, “Pleasure, that’s all I want.”

In pursuit of the daughter of a respected knight, Don Juan challenges the man to a duel and wins. But he is soon cursed. The spirit of the slain knight takes the form of a statue and places a curse upon him, which is the curse of love. Having treated countless women merely as objects of pleasure and conquest, Don Juan is now overcome with genuine feelings for a single woman, Maria who, in turn, falls in love with him. But the love that redeems him from his life of debauchery ultimately becomes a fatal curse.

The French original musical “Don Juan,” which visited Korea in 2006, has returned after 19 years. Currently being performed at the Seoul Arts Center since April 4, “Don Juan” is a musical based on a Spanish legend about the love and fate of an aristocratic young man synonymous with a life of debauchery. The story has inspired countless artistic interpretations over the centuries, including Molière’s 1665 play “Dom Juan,” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera “Don Giovanni,” and the film “Don Juan” starring Hollywood actor Johnny Depp.

The musical “Don Juan” makes the audience feel as though they have been transported to Seville, Spain, the setting of the story. This illusion is especially vivid during the flamenco ensemble performances by the dancers, a true highlight of the production. These scenes, featuring Spanish guitars, castanets, rhythmic tap dancing, and traditional Andalusian costumes, drew enthusiastic applause and cheers from the audience.

All the performers sing their musical numbers in French. Like other renowned French musicals, such as “Notre-Dame de Paris” and “Les Misérables,” “Don Juan” follows a “sung-through” format, meaning the entire story is told through song without spoken dialogue, similar to an opera. Excluding a 20-minute intermission, 37 musical numbers are performed continuously over the show’s 150-minute runtime.

The stage design and production effects are another visual highlight not to be missed. The use of LED lighting and the overall stage setup have been praised as improvements over the Korean tour in 2006. One particularly memorable moment is the climactic duel between Don Juan and his rival, Raphael, where a striking visual effect simulates pouring rain through lighting.

After the final curtain call, audience members are invited to join in a group sing-along. While it can be challenging for many to sing along to songs in French, the production helps by displaying Korean phonetic transcriptions of the lyrics on the subtitle screen, encouraging their participation.

As in the original production 19 years ago, the renowned French singer-songwriter Félix Gray returns as the writer and composer of the musical. The direction is helmed by Gilles Maheu, best known for his work on “Notre-Dame de Paris.”

Speaking with Korean reporters recently, Gray said, “Being back in Korea makes me feel young again,” and recalled being “deeply surprised by the incredibly enthusiastic response” during the tour in 2006. He added, “Back then, Don Juan was portrayed as a young man in his twenties. Now, he’s entered his thirties. As both the actor and the show have matured, I believe we can express much deeper emotions.”

The role of Don Juan is played by Gian Marco Schiaretti, who impressed Korean audiences in 2021 with “Notre-Dame de Paris.” The role of Maria is performed by Laetitia Carrere, known for her performances in musicals like “Romeo and Juliet.”

The musical will be performed in Seoul, Daegu, and Busan. It runs through April 13 at the Seoul Arts Center, from April 18 to 20 at the Keimyung Art Center in Daegu, and from April 25 to 27 at the Busan Citizens Hall Grand Theater.