So long, Cixi, and maybe see you again soon
The curtain at M Theatre came down Sunday on "Susi Thai Hao: The Musical" ("Cixi: The Musical") after 10 sold-out shows. The audience rewarded the cast and crew with sustained applause and then sang along with the theme song, "Soo Fah Nua Banlang Mangkorn
In an especially touching moment, the “special guest actress”, Her Royal Highness Princess Somsawali, was seen shedding tears of pride and happiness alongside fellow cast members. She’d played the mother of the title character, Cixi.
Cixi, the Dowager Empress of China, was a formidable historical figure who was known in the Chinese Hokkien dialect as Susi Thai Hao.
Many viewers found the musical too long at four hours, but everyone agreed that there was much to the show that was captivating. The gorgeous costumes and sets and the wonderful music composed by Suruj Tipakoraseni guaranteed lasting memories. Suruj, who also produced, wrote the script and co-starred in the play, penned all 17 songs in the 150-minute epic, drawing on his prior experience scoring the musicals “Reya” and “Shanghai”.
Lead actress Kanda Witthayanuparpyuenyong earned the loudest applause for her portrayal of the complex Cixi. Her powerful singing voice and solid acting make her a natural for musical theatre and she’s even better now than she was in the title role in “Miss Saigon”, Thakolkiat Weeravan’s 2012 musical.
Suruj played Lilianying, chief eunuch in Cixi’s court, and drew loud cheers for his beautiful voice and naturally conveyed comic character. He again had Kriengsak “Victor” Silakong as director, a second collaboration for them after “Reya” last year.
This musical is based on “Susi Thai Hao”, a novel by the late MR Kukrit Pramoj. The story has been retold on both the big and small screen, Thais being enthralled, as Victor has said, by Cixi’s personal life and her role in Chinese history.
Suruj and Victor dispensed with the sensational untruths that have accumulated, however. She was no demon, Victor points out, but rather just smart enough to know when to use her supreme power against enemies. Meanwhile “she tried to revolutionise the country in many ways and wanted women to have more freedom”, he says. “Cixi doesn’t need to be a witch, like in the other versions. I see her as a woman in a tough situation who just wanted to enjoy her life and needed someone to love her.”
Although the cast boasted no superstars, its actors were all tremendous singers, ensuring the show’s success. They included Suveera “Q Flure” Boonrod as Emperor Hsien Feng, who takes Cixi as a concubine; and Pudit Khunchanasongkhram as Cixi’s lover and aide-de-camp, Rong Lu.
The musical earned millions of baht and a generous share of the take is being donated, unofficially, to the Princess Pa Foundation. Cynics have complained, though, that such a posh and expensive production should have had more than 10 showings, which was far too few to accommodate the potential audience.
Well, the cynics have been heard. Suruj and Victor are discussing another series. As to when and where, keep an eye on Soopsip and www.Facebook/cixithemusical.
