Daehak-ro theater seating, Row A participation vs Row C comfort: Aruto

A play is one of those things you can't skip when you visit Daehak-ro, right? This time I went to see a romantic comedy that mixes laughs and warmth: NEW Oh! My Ghost at Aruto Small Theater (아루또소극장). Four actors carry the show for 90 minutes, and it's the kind of story where you're laughing cheerfully and then suddenly your heart aches, so I enjoyed it even more than I expected. I'll walk you through everything, from finding the theater to choosing seats to the actual show.

How to get to Aruto Small Theater in Daehak-ro

It's easiest to find Aruto Small Theater using the McDonald's Daehak-ro building as your landmark. Go in through the entrance on the first floor and out the back, and the theater building is right in front of you.

There's also a play banner standing in front of the theater building, which helped. It can be a little confusing at first to tell where the theater is, but once you remember this route it's not hard.

When does the box office open, and when should you arrive?

The box office is on the first floor and opens 1 hour before the show. We saw the Sunday 2 p.m. performance and picked up our tickets around 1:07 p.m. The box office had only just opened, but two groups were already ahead of us getting their tickets. Seats are assigned first come, first served, so if you want a particular spot, it's better to arrive a little early.

What to know before entering the show

According to the theater's notice, the lobby opens 15 minutes before the show starts. Do note that late entry and re-entry are not allowed. If you booked with a discount, bring proof of eligibility too; the notice said you'll have to pay the difference if you don't have it.

The NEW Oh! My Ghost pamphlet listed the show information along with where to book. You can book through NOL Interpark, Naver Reservation, Timeticket, YES24 and Ticketlink, and on-site booking is available too. It's worth checking the schedule and booking details once more before you visit!

How does seat assignment work? Row A vs Row C

Aruto Small Theater assigns seats first come, first served, and the method was a bit unusual. A staff member looks at a paper seating chart and checks off seats one by one; the marked seats were already assigned. The seats run from Row A to Row E, with 14 seats in each row. When we got our tickets, Row A still had seats left, but my friend said the very front row felt like too much pressure, so we chose Row C.

We ended up with seats C4 and C5. Having watched the show, I think someone very introverted might find Row A uncomfortable. Not only do you come face to face with the actors, there's also a scene where an audience member goes up on stage to take part.

• Row A: a fun spot if you want to actively interact with the actors
• Row C: a good choice if you'd like to watch a bit more comfortably

The theater entrance and the 4th-floor lobby

Next to the box office there's a staircase that runs all the way up to the 4th floor. We naturally followed it up, and since it's one continuous flight, you climb quite a few stairs before reaching the theater. The theater rules are posted along the way, so please check them before you go in.

Once you reach the 4th floor, you pass the theater entrance and can see posters for all sorts of shows. It felt like the classic atmosphere of a Daehak-ro small theater.

Before going in, you can wait in the waiting area, where you can also check the seating chart and the viewing precautions. That day's show featured four actors playing Jaerim, Hanbyeol, Taegu and Seonhwa.

NEW Oh! My Ghost: plot and atmosphere

NEW Oh! My Ghost begins when Jaerim, who has never dated anyone, suddenly starts seeing a ghost named Seonhwa. Then Hanbyeol, who has lost his memory, moves in too, and their ordinary days start to tumble along in total chaos. Jaerim helps Hanbyeol find his lost memories, and the three of them tick off Seonhwa's bucket list one by one. Along the way, unexpected backstories come out one after another, but I think it's more fun to find those out at the show itself.

At first it felt like a light romantic comedy with one funny scene after another. But as the story went on, there was sadness and warmth too, and I ended up feeling a lot more emotions than I expected.

Can you take photos at the curtain call?

There's a curtain call after NEW Oh! My Ghost ends, and we were told photos are allowed during it, so I happily took lots. There was no separate photo time, but I liked being able to capture the actors right after the performance.

The actor playing the male lead, Jaerim, was really good. Even in funny situations he stayed focused on the play and kept the story flowing naturally, which impressed me. The actor playing Hanbyeol had a clear, bright vibe that suited the character well. The acting felt natural, and his bright energy did a lot to lift the mood of the show.

The actor playing Seonhwa took on two more roles besides Seonhwa. Her pure, innocent vibe stood out, and there was charm in how hard she worked at playing several characters too. The actor playing Taegu also covered the multi-man roles, and personally his deadpan, sly acting really impressed me. He made the laughs come naturally and also did a lot to keep the play moving.

Above all, it was amazing that just four actors lead the show for 90 minutes. Each has a distinct personality, yet they blend so well that they filled the stage so richly you never thought of it as a small cast.

Verdict: a Daehak-ro play full of laughs that stays with you

Aruto Small Theater's NEW Oh! My Ghost was a play with sadness and warmth tucked inside cheerful laughs. All four actors acted well, so I had fun for the whole 90 minutes. If you're looking for a show in Daehak-ro where you can laugh lightly and still carry something home with you, it's worth seeing once. If you like audience participation, I'd recommend Row A; if you want to enjoy it comfortably, Row C.