It's comedy to the rescue as all roads lead to Rome

Viewers had been decidedly unimpressed when he and Peeranee “Matt” Khongthai were cast for the show. But the very first episode got everyone laughing – and talking. 

Rome plays identical twins Pete (who’s gay) and Paul (who’s straight). Pete is a famous actor cowering in the sexual-identity closet when his secret boyfriend brutally beats him up. He decides to commit suicide, but an aunt comes to the rescue. Hoping to keep the assault under wraps and avoid a scandal, Pete goes into hiding while he recovers from his injuries and encounters a wildlife photographer. 

The plot thickens even more humorously while Pete is sharing a house with his best friend Luk Jan (played by Matt), who doesn’t know Pete has a twin. She hates men, having been betrayed in love. Sexual identity, mistaken identity – it’s fun guessing where all this might lead.

Playing two different characters isn’t easy, and Rome is under additional pressure because his most recent TV dramas have sputtered out. But the man is clearly a talented actor and there’s great chemistry between him and Matt, who shines in her character too. 

Meanwhile Rome has never gone hungry. He loves promoting commercial products at public events and no doubt loves pocketing the fee, which for an actor can run from Bt50,000 to Bt200,000 depending on their popularity, for just a few hours’ worth of smiling. Rome insists that he’s not going to raise his price even though he’s getting more offers now thanks to the show’s success. He’ll make time for the extra public appearances and make hay while the sun shines.

 

Three peas, one pod

Back in the golden age of teenage films and TV series, in the 1990s, the most popular actors were Sornram “Noom” Theppitak, Somchai “Tao” Khemklad and Patiparn “Mos” Pataweekarn. Since they worked for rival studios – Noom and Tao at RS Promotion and Mos singing for Grammy – their fans never got to see them work together, even though they were all pals and sometimes hung out together. 

Twenty years on these teen idols are in their 40s – and, yes, working together. Noom and Tao are no longer under contract to anyone, so, for the first time, they and Mos are an onscreen trio. The lucky show is the Scenario drama “Banlang Mek”, a retelling of the extraordinary life of Parnroong, “the iron woman”. The popular tale remade several times for television and the stage now has Piyada Jutharattanakun playing Parnroong, while the three heroes of the ’90s portray her three husbands.

The boys are delighted to be working together at last, even if it might seem “too late”. In an interview they said they spend time on the set between scenes not talking about the good old days but gossiping about their wives – even though Noom is still single. Noom digs for information and wants to get Tao and Mos to introduce him to their wives’ friends who are single. Tao isn’t thrilled with the idea, though, fretting that he’d end up the one in trouble if any problems arose!