Heroes and monsters

While commercial theatre companies have traditionally opted to adapt for the stage stories with which Thai audiences are already familiar, smaller troupes have headed into the opposite direction.

Perhaps that’s why many of us love going to smaller venues – to discover tales that we do not yet know and be inspired in a way that doesn’t happen with other mainstream media.

As part of the ongoing Bangkok Asean Art and Culture Festival, the Culture Ministry’s Office of Contemporary Art and Culture (OCAC) and Bangkok Art and Culture Centre have made possible a collaboration between leading theatre groups Anatta and 8X8 in “Maya Yak” (“A Demon Hero”). Anatta is led by Pradit Prasartthong while Nikorn Sae Tang heads up 8X8. Both are recipients of an OCAC Silpathorn Award in the field of performing art. 

Using various storytelling techniques, Pradit, who also portrays Sukhachan, adapted the script from the story of Sukhachan, a demon soldier who deserted his army duty and had to impersonate Sida and have his head cut off to trick Phra Ram, as a punishment issued by Intharachit. Nikorn stages the play while Pradit adds to his already multiple roles and takes on the choreography. 

It’s a story less often told in stagings of the “Ramakien” and the frequently shifting modes of storytelling techniques make it somewhat confusing. Additionally, the tagline “I’m a man who will die as a woman” is misleading. While some dance movements are pleasant and show fine amalgamation of different dance and theatre cultures in the region, others are either too playful or too literal to be commendable. 

Also, this kind of work seems to be totally Pradit’s cup of tea, and thus Nikorn, who portrayed Intharachit, never really looks comfortable. Perhaps an apt analogy would be Rafael Nadal playing football with Christiano Ronaldo for Real Madrid to celebrate the diplomatic relationship between Spain and Portugal. 

That said, Pradit and Nikorn have strong support onstage by veteran actress Narumol Thammapruksa as Sida and young actor Jirawat Charncheaw whose portrayal of Thotsakan proves he is more than able to rub shoulders with the three veterans. Sinnapa Sarasas provides the compelling sound and music design. 

Meanwhile at Bangkok’s most active theatre venue Democrazy Studio, TV Munk, famous for their screwball comedy clips on the Internet, is staging an adaptation of contemporary novel “Pisat Hua To” (“The Big Head Monster”) by Ong-art Chaichancheep. The script, lyrics and direction are by Jaturachai Srichanwanpen and this charming piece of work proves that this “Monster” is worth both reading and watching. 

When the title character leaves home on an adventure to search for his idol the Blue Monster, he learns many truths of life in this unpredictable contemporary tale – and so does the audience, both the young and the young-at-heart. The ensemble of nine thespians – led by seasoned actors Nut Nualphang as the narrator and the Blue Monster and Watthanachai Treedecha as the Big Head Monster’s father with a mysterious past – are tightly knit and help each other in retelling this tale in the same acting style. Kudos are also due to the set design team, whose theatre-in-the-round set up is vibrant, as well as lighting designers Khemmachat Sermsookjareunchai and Varattha Tongyoo, whose work help make the storytelling crisp and clear.

Last Friday, there were two families with young kids in the audience and both were fully entertained by the first act’s comedic tone – though some jokes delayed the pace of the play – and the second act’s more serious approach managed to keep their attention. It’s a shame there are no afternoon performances or at least earlier showtimes, thus allowing more families or schools to enjoy it.