Thanks for the memories

The Culture Ministry’s Cultural Promotion Foundation and the Senior Actor Welfare Foundation are celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s 82nd birthday on August 12 with a specially created cultural performance titled “Nai Suan Fun” (“In the Garden of Dreams”).

 “The Cultural Promotion Foundation came up with the idea of compiling the works of national artists and turning them into a musical,” explains Suprawat Pattamasoot, himself a national artist and director of the musical. 

“The musical reflects different stories from real-life periods in Thailand from King Rama V to King Rama VII. Mae Ploy, the central character in national artist MR Kukrit Pramoj’s novel ‘See Paendin’ [Four Reigns] is the narrator.

The musical is penned by Prapassorn Sevikul and is being performed by a wide range of the country’s national artists including poet Nawarat Pongpaiboon, musician Surachai Chanthimathorn, artists Kamol Tassananchalee, Chakrapan Posayakit, Tawee Rajaneekorn, Preecha Thaothong, Woranan Chatchawantipakorn, Thongchai Rukpathum, and Vichoke Mukdamanee, and actors and singers Sawalee Phakapan, Suthep Wongkamhaeng, Charin Nanthanakorn, Jintana Suksathit, Supachai Chandrasuwan, Prayong Chuenyen, Pitsamai Wilaisak, Setha Sirachaya, and Wichit Hothai.

“It isn’t hard for me to play Mae Ploy, because I have a good memory and can memorise the dialogue. I think the audience is really going to enjoy the show,” says Pitsamai.

“Performing a musical is hard, especially being live on stage, but I am doing everything to play my role of Dao Ruang to the fullest and make it perfect,” says Usamanee Waitayanon.

The six-act show kicks off in 1937 with a theme song “Thepthida Hing Hoi” and others such as “See Paendin” and Thanpuying Puangroi Aphaiwongs’ “Bua Khao”, a soundtrack from the Thai movie “Than Fai Kao”. The second act covers the Indochina Wars to World War II, from 1939 to 1945 and features “Rak Muang Thai”, “Namta Saeng Tai” and “Khu Kam” from the film adaptation of Thommayanti’s novel of the same name.

The third act is set in the boom years of the stage play after World War II with such songs as “Chula Tri Koon” and “Ban Sai Thong”, while the fourth act, which starts in 1957 and covers the years of development, features “Sabai Prae” from the movie “Naresuan Maharaja”, “Sawan Mued”, and “Puyai Lee”. 

The fifth act is set during the Vietnam War in 1960 and includes “Wear My Ring Around Your Neck”, “Hao Dong”, “Klied Khon Suay” from “Khao Nok Na”, Nawarat Pongpaibul’s “Pieng Khwam Kluean Wai”, Prapassorn Sevikun’s “Wela Nai Khuad Kaew”, and Surachai Chanthimathorn’s “Khuen Rak.” 

The last act moves to the present and features Hammer’s “Phi Suea Lae Dokmai”, “Nam Soh Sai”, “Tae Pang Korn”, “Tawan Ching Prob”, and “Lao Kham Hom.”

Other songs are “Duay Sud Jai” penned by Boyd Kosiyabong and sung by Be Peerapat, and “Hing Hoi” penned by Prapassorn Sevikun, music by Ton Sieng Band, sung by Kanklao "Grace" Duaysienklao.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be presented to the Queen.

 

 

Holding a tune

“In the Garden of Dreams” is being staged at the Thailand Cultural Centre on August 2 at 7pm and August 3 at 2pm.

Admission is free.