In fine voice

SETTLING DOWN in my seat inside Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani last weekend for the all-actor show “Lor Maak Maak”, I wondered whether like its predecessor – the wildly successful “Give Me 5” – the 12 male stars would be joined by any ladies.

The answer was sadly not, though being surrounded by a virtually all-female audience somewhat made up for this disappointment.

And the ladies were undoubtedly excited. Neon signs held up by fan clubs of each of 12 actors and singers could be seen around the hall, and the thrust stage extending into the audience was being eagerly eyed.

Screams and applause greeted each of 12 handsome suit-clad lads as they came out on stage to perform the opening number, “Phieng Chai Khon Nee Mai Chai Phu Wiset” before splitting up for solo shows.

Peter Corp Dyrendal, the star of current soap “Aeab Rak Online” risked being drowned out by ecstatic screams as he performed his 1997 hit “Chai Khon Nueng”. Yuke “Son” Songpaisan showcased his piano playing skills on “Khon Sudthai” and Warintorn “Great” Panhakarn and Teeradetch “Alek” Methawarayut each played guitar for their respective solos, “Khae Bok Wa Rak Ther” and “Pleng Rak Pleng Nueng”.

After greeting fans, the 12 split into groups for the second part of the show. Great, Alek, Thanatat “Kangsom” Chaiyaat and Worakorn “Kung” Sirisorn joined up to sing “I Love Your Smile”, while Isariya “Hunz” Patharamanop duetted with Jirayu “James” Tangsrisuk on “Ya Mong Trong Nan”. Pakorn “Boy” Chatborirak, Thanapop “Tor” Leerattanakhajohn and Chantavit “Ter” Dhanasevi named themselves B2T and dressed up in brightly coloured costumes for their short show.

Laughter rocked the hall in the third segment of the show, a musical that blended hit dramas Channel 3’s “Suphapburut Juthathep” with GTH’s “Hormones”.

 The comedy set started in a dining room of Juthathep Palace, with four brothers (Great, James Ji, Son and Alek) talking about how they could avoid being married off to kathoey TV host Madam Mod, who then cast a magic spell over them to win their love. The four however escaped and travelled through time to today, where they encountered Phai (Tor Hormones), and Ter. All six boys finally succumbed to Madam Mod’s charms but she had the last laugh and ditched every one of her suitors.

The clearest distinction between “Lor Maak Maak” and “Give Me 5” was the addition of a sexy seduction scene of a man by another man. The segment, which was dubbed “khoo ‘gine” (imagined couple) in a nod to much-used slang, saw Hunz the Star matched up with James Ji and Tor with Ter. 

The action on stage delighted 

 the ladies and they showed their pleasure with deafening screams. 

The fourth segment featured a show by three singers from “The Star”. Kangsom opened with a DJ spin on “Khun Lae Khun Thao Nan”, Kung showed off his dancing steps a la Sukrit “Bie The Star” Wisetkaew, and Hunz made some sexy moves to Chin Chinawut’s “Khuen Nee Yaak Dai Kee Khrang”.

 Rock came under the spotlight in the fifth part, with Prin “Mark” Suparat roaring on Bodyslam’s “Sang Sudthai”, Alek performing Slot Machine’s “Chan Chao”, Great taking on Cocktail’s “Khuk Khao”, Boy Pakorn singing Silly Fools’ “Ji Ja” and Peter opting for his own hit “Chao Thui Yoo Nai”. All five were then upstaged as veteran rocker, actor, director and producer Pongpat Wachirabunjong wowed the crowd with “Jai Nak Leng”.

The 12 handsome guys closed out their show by thanking fans then swinging into “Ther Suay”, “Chai Loei”, “Khwam Rak Suay Ngam Samer” and “Super Star”. 

Was the concert better than “Give Me 5”? Difficult to say, as while fans didn’t get up and dance in the aisles, they certainly laughed a whole lot more.