The public audition

Su Yeon unfolded the sheets of paper one by one.

Flap—

Then her face brightened.

"Yu Myeong is Peter Pan, and Ryu Shin is Hook!"

"Then I guess it's decided."

"Looks that way."

Fortunately or unfortunately, there was no overlap in their choices.

Then Ryu Shin asked,

"Why did you choose Peter Pan?"

"Since it's an original play, I thought the more you empathize with a character, the better lines you'll be able to create. And between the two, I relate more to Peter Pan. What about you, Hyung?"

"...I relate more to Hook."

An original play created not by one actor, but by three actors together.

Just as Su Yeon had found herself in the role of Wendy, the characters most similar to themselves would probably inspire the most resonant dialogue.

It was exactly what he himself had been thinking.

And he was curious.

Peter Pan was impulsive, scattered, and unruly. At first glance, he seemed like the complete opposite of Yu Myeong.

What part of that character had he found relatable?

He would gradually find out through rehearsals.

There was a slight disappointment that they would no longer be competing for the same role, but Ryu Shin did not think fighting over a part was the only form of competition.

This time, I absolutely will...

The two exchanged unreadable glances.

And so, the casting for the original production of Peter Pan was decided.

 What followed was a meeting devoted to the characters.

Unexpectedly, Su Yeon became a tremendous help.

In a sense, it was her area of expertise.

"Actually, it's difficult to justify institutionalizing someone solely for Dependent Personality Disorder."

"Hm... really?"

"Yes. Unless there's a risk of self harm, harm to others, or an inability to function in daily life, it's hard to reach the point of inpatient treatment. It's fiction anyway, but credibility still matters."

"...That's true."

"So I was thinking. What if Wendy's diagnosis were Masked Depression instead?"

"Masked Depression...?"

"Yes. I was diagnosed with it before."

According to Su Yeon's explanation, Masked Depression referred to a form of depression in which the depressive mood remained hidden behind a kind of mask, making it difficult to notice externally.

"Even if other people can't tell, the person is still psychologically depressed, so symptoms like loss of appetite and fatigue can appear. Sometimes they become dependent on things like medication or alcohol. Wendy wears the mask of a good child because she's trying to live up to everyone's expectations, so she appears normal. But what if she actually has Masked Depression and was admitted because of alcoholism or an eating disorder?"

Yu Myeong was impressed by her extensive knowledge.

Embarrassed, she explained that it was only superficial knowledge she had picked up through psychiatric counseling after her mother's hospitalization, along with things she had learned from having a close family member hospitalized for such a long time.

Yet that knowledge proved invaluable when they began analyzing Peter Pan and Hook as well.

"Then Peter Pan's a problem too. I thought he had ADHD combined with narcissistic tendencies, but isn't hospitalization a stretch for that as well?"

"Yes. Voluntary admission might be possible, but Peter Pan craves freedom. He doesn't seem like the type who would check himself in willingly..."

"That's true..."

After putting their heads together for quite a while, Su Yeon spoke up.

"What if we give him sociopathic traits?"

"Uh... sociopathic?"

"Yes. Even in the original story, Peter Pan can be surprisingly cruel whenever something doesn't interest him."

While flying Wendy's brothers to Neverland, Peter Pan simply watches with amusement as the exhausted children begin plummeting toward the ground from sleep.

Only when they're about to hit the ocean does he dive down and catch them, showing off his skills.

If those moments were interpreted not merely as narcissistic behavior but as sociopathic traits born from an inability to understand other people's emotions—

"Come to think of it, Peter Pan cut off Hook's left arm too. And he doesn't seem to feel guilty about it."

"Exactly. That could even become the direct reason for his confinement. He injured someone and felt no remorse, so he was diagnosed with a psychological defect and institutionalized. How does that sound?"

"Wow. That makes it so much better."

For Hook as well, Su Yeon came up with an unusual idea.

"What about PTSD for Hook? Peter Pan cut off his arm, and then the crocodile ate it. He practically trembles whenever he hears the ticking clock inside the crocodile."

"I was thinking about that 'clock' part. When you hear 'clock,' the first thing that comes to mind psychologically is obsession."

"Uh... an obsession with time?"

"Yes. In the fairy tale, the ticking clock is just a sign that the crocodile is approaching. But what if it's actually a metaphor for an obsession with time, and Hook suffers from that obsession?"

"...Then from Hook's perspective, someone who compulsively follows rules, Peter Pan would be incredibly irritating."

"Yes. And at the same time, he'd envy him."

The three exchanged glances.

Little by little, the shapes of the protagonists were emerging.

 "You're recruiting more people?"

"Yes. We need one important supporting character who's connected to all three of them."

"What kind of character? Tinker Bell, maybe?"

"No. The Doctor."

"Ah..."

Baek Yi Shin was attending the meeting today in his capacity as assistant director.

Though he carried the title, it was difficult for him to claim any real directing authority.

The actors were effectively sharing directing responsibilities among themselves, and they were all people with such exceptional acting ability and artistic judgment that there seemed to be no place for him to step in.

The role he could actually fulfill was handling matters related to Theater Company July, like he was doing now, and serving as a script supervisor who ensured there were no problems with the production taking shape.

Even so, merely being able to witness the creative process of the play they were building was enough to make his heart race.

"Only one person? You don't need any minor roles or extras?"

"It's not a realistic drama, so I'd rather not use extras or small roles. I want to focus on the acting more than the production itself. For that, a small elite cast is better."

As July's casting manager, that was a little disappointing.

Any July members who participated in this production would improve as actors and attract media attention.

It could even help usher in a new golden age for the company.

"Fine. How are you going to choose them? Do you already have candidates in mind?"

"A few, but... we're going to hold an open audition."

"Oh? Really?"

Color immediately returned to Yi Shin's face.

Then—

"You've got to earn your rent somehow."

At Yu Myeong's comment, he flinched and quickly lowered the corners of his mouth again.

"Wow... you really are something."

Baek Yi Shin shook his head.

The brat had only turned twenty six, yet somehow seemed to be sitting right on top of his head.

When he had brought Yu Myeong's team into July, he had hoped for two things.

One was to elevate the company's status.

The other was for July's younger actors to be inspired by his team and create a new wave of momentum.

Yu Myeong had seen right through that and intentionally suggested the open audition.

Looking back, maybe that had also been the reason he willingly participated in the Internal competition. Perhaps being provoked by the company members had only been an act.

Such a broad perspective from someone so young.

Baek Yi Shin felt goosebumps rise along his arms.

"Well, we're not planning to work for free either. We've got something to gain from the audition."

"What is it...?"

"We're going to train Su Yeon."

"Ah... Seol Su Yeon. She still looks like an amateur. Will she really be okay against professional actors?"

"Haha. If I were you, I'd be worried."

Yi Shin could only stare in confusion at Yu Myeong's cryptic response.

Soon afterward, the audition announcement was posted.

 ────────────────────────

[Team Triple Open Casting Call]

Team Triple, currently preparing the original production Peter Pan, is holding open auditions.

Role: Doctor (supporting role)

Role Description: Peter Pan is the story of Peter Pan, Hook, and Wendy, all confined within a psychiatric ward. The Doctor is the physician responsible for treating them. The character and dialogue have not yet been finalized.

Audition Format: An Etude (improvisational acting exercise) between Wendy and the Doctor.

Applicants should contact Casting Director Baek Yi Shin, assistant director of Peter Pan, to request the necessary application forms.

We look forward to your applications.

────────────────────────

Team Triple was the project team's name: Yu Myeong, Ryu Shin, and Su Yeon.

The entire company erupted into excitement.

"Did you see it? Are you applying?"

"Of course. Aside from the actors already cast as leads or supporting leads in the next production, practically everyone will apply. Even Chang Hoon, who already secured a supporting role in Faust, said he's disappointed."

"Doesn't it hurt your pride a little? Everyone scrambling to get a spot in a performance by a bunch of kids."

"Kids? Those are the hottest rookie actors in Korea right now. If they'd cast me, I'd call them big brothers."

"Fair point... money and talent make the hierarchy. But if it's an etude with Wendy, does that mean acting opposite that pretty girl?"

"That's not so bad."

"No matter what happens, I'll do better than her. At least I won't embarrass myself, right?"

Everywhere people went, the only topic of conversation was the audition.

Chu Se Mi clenched both fists as she read the announcement.

I have to get it. It has to be me.

She was tall and possessed striking Western features.

She was beautiful, certainly, but that wasn't necessarily an advantage for a stage actress.

Many classical plays preferred heroines with a pure and delicate image.

As a result, despite being one of the strongest young actresses in the company, she repeatedly lost leading roles.

Doctor.

What an exciting role.

And that team contained monsters.

Working alongside them would help her grow both as an actress and in reputation.

Seol Su Yeon... was that her name?

She thought of the one person on the team who seemed out of place.

The Baron who had briefly appeared onstage as Holmes's counterpart during the Internal competition.

The performance had not been particularly memorable.

She had assumed the girl was a trainee, but apparently she was helping prepare the production.

There's no way I can lose to someone like that. I'll show them the best Doctor they've ever seen.

She was the first person to request the application form and submitted her profile immediately.

Then she began practicing with a psychiatrist character in mind.

On the final day of applications, more than twenty submissions sat on Baek Yi Shin's desk.

Five finalists were selected from among them.

And then audition day arrived.

 "Hello. I'm Baek Yi Shin, and I'll be overseeing today's audition."

The venue was the July Theater.

The format was a public audition.

Just as many people had gathered as during the Internal competition.

Half came out of curiosity.

The other half were applicants who had been eliminated on paper and couldn't let it go.

What kind of audition would this be?

Would the results really be fair?

With arms crossed, they sat scattered throughout the audience seats, watching.

"As announced, today's audition will be conducted through an Etude, an improvisational acting exercise. The candidates will play psychiatrists conducting counseling sessions with Wendy. Wendy's diagnoses are Dependent Personality Disorder and Masked Depression. You should all have received a summary of those conditions beforehand."

The five actors seated in the candidates' section nodded.

"Aside from those diagnoses and the background setting inspired by Peter Pan, there are no other restrictions. The evaluation will focus on the doctor's characterization, the process of opening this patient's closed heart and guiding the counseling session forward, and the overall believability of that process as a performance."

As soon as he finished speaking, a figure quietly walked onto the stage and sat in the chair placed at its center.

It was Su Yeon.

"The role of Wendy will be performed by Seol Su Yeon."

So it really is her.

She looked like a beginner. Can she even handle an etude?

Still, she doesn't seem completely lacking in talent. The key will be outperforming the other candidates.

"We'll begin with Jeong Sin Ho."

The first actor strode confidently onto the stage.

A male actor in his early thirties. He had transferred from another theater company to July the previous year and had played a significant supporting role in the company's autumn production. His approachable face gave a pleasant impression, but in reality he was a very proud man.

Looking at the young actress who appeared barely in her early twenties, he let out a quiet scoff.

Of all people... Why couldn't it have been Yu Myeong or Ryu Shin?

He wasn't pleased, but for the sake of a role he desperately wanted, he intended to give it everything he had.

The Doctor he had prepared was a capable, highly professional psychiatrist.

He took his position opposite his scene partner.

"We'll begin once the lights fade out and come back up. Please note that if the scene remains meaningless for more than five minutes, it will be terminated. Let us know when you're ready."

"You can start immediately."

Click—

The lights went out.

Bzzzz—

The brightness gradually rose.

Moments later, the stage was fully illuminated.

And Jeong Sin Ho saw Su Yeon's face.

Huh—

A pale, beautiful figure, as though sculpted from plaster.

The corners of her lips were raised in a smile.

Yet her eyes were empty.

Completely lifeless.

His heart lurched.