And a heroine she remains

Fewer scene changes would make “Pritsana” considerably shorter – it runs 15 minutes short of four hours – but it’s delightful from start to finish nevertheless.
This is due in large part to solid teamwork on the part of veteran playwright-lyricist Daraka Wongsiri and director Suwandee Jakravoravudh. Composer-music director Sutee Sangsareechon also shares the credit for tunes that fit the period perfectly, adding to the sense of nostalgia.
In particular, “12 Reasons”, “I’ve Never Been in Love” and “The One Who’s Good Enough” could easily become pop hits, although I’m sure Sutee intends only for them to serve the play’s dramatic purposes, unlike some other theatre composers.
As the title character, Elisabeth “Rose KPN” Sitthijaroenyot shows much improvement since her first stage role in “Fame: The Musical”. She offers a more outspoken version of the beloved Thailand-born, US-bred heroine, though, as is clear in the way she delivers her exit line in the first scene: “I hate some humans!”
As Thanchai Photpricha, Popetorn “Two” Soonthornyanakij is an immaculate romantic hero. One of the few professional Thai singers to have successfully crossed over to acting, he is smooth and natural in his transitions from speaking to singing, with fine emotional control and unwavering credibility.
I won’t be surprised if a lot of women in the audience fall in love with Two or his character – or both. I didn’t, but I’m going to buy his albums.
One instance of miscasting is Nat “Natthew AF” Thewphaingarm, whose Prawit is never believable despite an evidently tremendous effort. The character ends up serving merely as Photpricha’s cute comic sidekick.
Phagkamon “Lookpong AF” Punyabhuti is thoroughly entertaining as Rati, offering the voice and body of a stereotypical nang itcha – a jealous woman – who didn’t get to marry the man she wanted. She gives the audience what she thinks we want to see, but I think her character would be more human if she instead shunned cliche.
Meanwhile veteran singer Sirintra Niyakorn and Kanuengpim “Nim AF” Promkorn subtly steal the show whenever they’re onstage with superb characterisations of mother and daughter Samon and Anong. Their “less is more” approach to acting is the opposite to Lookpong’s.
As always in Dreambox productions, the ensemble includes many seasoned performers who never let us down.
If the main purpose of adapting a book to the stage is to recreate the original live and make the audience feel good (or at least feel like they’ve reread the novel), then “Pritsana: The Musical” is a true success.
But this is the same theatre company that brought us “Mae Nak: The Musical” a few years ago and managed to incorporate many fascinating little-known details. A clever interpretation of why and how Mae Nak became Thailand’s most frightening spirit made it a compelling drama, rather than the usual mundane horror tale.
Because of that show, an avid theatregoer has the right to ask for more than a by-the-book interpretation this time.

HERE YOU GO
By popular demand, “Pritsana: The Musical” will be re-staged from May 18 to 20 and May 25 to 27.
Tickets go on sale today at www.BananaBooking.com. Call (080) 260 0771-6.