A royal evening with Hanuman

VIPs welcoming the Princess included Thanpuying Charungjit Teekara, ML Piyapas and Chutinant Bhirombhakdi, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, MC Chatrichalerm Yugala, Thanpuying Supornpen Luangthepnimit, ML Uemsook and ML Yuwanwaree Kitiyakara, and Dr Jirayu and Thanpuying Oranuch Isarangkul Na Ayudhya.

The show was the latest in an annual series of khon performances inaugurated by Her Majesty to promote traditional Thai culture and preserve our endangered skills in handcrafts. Khon involves mask-making, embroidery and technical talent in gold, silver and ornaments.

The episode of the Ramakien performed this year illustrated ethics as well. The message was that the good always eventually triumph, even if personal sacrifices have to be made sometimes for the benefit of society as a whole. 

The highlights of the show included a technique that mimicked flying and tremendous displays of light and sound. And a scene at Kubhakarn’s ceremonial venue had as its background a rod nam kamalor pattern inspired by that of the dharma caskets of the late Ayutthaya and early Rattanakosin eras. The “Seizing the Sun Chariot” scene featured a four-metre-wide sun floating in the air. And a Hanuman figure just as tall collected his antidotes, using his tail to rap at a mountain to bring out the liquid – itself another marvellous feat of hydraulics.

Thanpuying Charungjit, assistant secretary general of the Support Foundation and chairperson of the show’s production committee, revealed afterward that the Princess was quite impressed. She particularly enjoyed seeing the young performers making their debut in the royal series, and loved the scene in which Phra Lak’s army prepares for battle, which she had personally requested to be included.