In celebration of Chitralada

CHITRALADA SCHOOL, which was initiated by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej to provide education to the Royal children, is preparing to celebrate its 60th anniversary through rare renditions of Thailand’s highest culture – wong dontri maha duriyang, a Thai symphonic band, and khon phra rachatan, royal masked dance. Both will be performed next month on two consecutive nights at the Thailand Cultural Centre.

“It is the greatest celebration since the school was founded,” says Thanpuying Angkab Punyashthiti, the school’s principal and director.

“It doesn’t celebrate just the 60th anniversary of the school but also marks Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, 60th birthday. We are tremendously proud that teachers, parents, students and alumni are bringing their spirit to this event.”

“It is greater than in previous years,” adds art director Dolchai Bunyaratavej, who organised the events marking the school’s 25th and 50th anniversaries. 

“The two-hour-and-half performance will be dazzling with more than 1,000 performers taking part.”

The rendition is divided into two acts: “Pathompong Wong Chakri” and “Dang Duangjai”.

The first act, “Pathompong Wong Chakri”, will present the royal duties of the nine kings of the Chakri Dynasty. It will start with King Rama I who established the Ratanakosin Kingdom and made Bangkok the capital city in 1782. The performance continues with King Rama II, a great supporter of arts and culture, King Rama III, who introduced trade with China, and King Rama IV, who is known as the Father of Science. It then moves to King Rama V and his abolition of slavery, King Rama VI who established the Boy Scouts, King Rama VII who granted a constitution to the Thai people, King Rama VIII as a young monarch, and King Rama IX who is being portrayed as the “Development King”.

The presentation of these royal duties will be interpreted through a musical-like performance featuring Chatchai and Sinjai Plengpanich, Kriangkrai Unhanandana, ML Kwanthip Devakul, ML Saralee Kitiyakara, Suveera “Q Flure” Boonrod, Pimdao “Mutmee” Panichsamai, Varut “Knot” Pitaksorayut and Nong Je T’aime.

“The first act starts with the royal khon performance, ‘Deva Sapha’, which is based on the belief that the kings were reincarnated from Narayana, Shiva and Brahma to help humans. It will be a grand scene about heaven and the gods. An 18-metre-long figure of Naga Vasuki will be brought back to life after being created for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit during her visit to China 15 years ago. Ajarn Sudsakorn Chaisem, who created the figure, has undertaken the repairs and has delicately decorated it with more naga scales so that it sparkles,” says acting director Napassakorn Mitrteeraroj.

The royal khon performance will present the “Churning of the Ocean of Milk”, one of the best known episodes in Hindu mythology. It recounts how, at the suggestion of Vishnu, the gods and demons churned the primeval ocean in order to obtain Amrita – the nectar of immortal life. For this task, they used the Serpent King, Vasuki, as a churning string while for the churning pole, they used Mount Mandara placed on the back of a Great Tortoise – the Kurma Avatar of Vishnu.

The gods took the tail and the demons pulled from the head. When the serpent Vasuki started to vomit a poison that threatened to contaminate the ocean of milk and the Amrita, Shiva took it in his mouth, where it turned his throat blue. And when the amrita finally appeared, the gods and the asuras fight over its possession, despite an earlier agreement to share it equally.

The second act features “Dang Duangjai” performed by the Thai classical instrument symphonic band and a khon performance of the “Matchanu Kumara” episode from the Ramakian. It relates the birth of Matchanu Kumara, a child born to Hanuman and Suphan Matcha.

“The second act starts with a traditional Thai tune, ‘Dokmai Sai’ which was created in Ayutthaya period. It is about gods giving peace to the people. The khon performance follows and the second act ends with a musical performance by students and alumni depicting the long journey of Chitralada School through several songs.

“The finale sees all performers singing ‘Thep Khong Thai’ in honour of the Princess,” says Dolchai.

The school will continue its celebrations with a number of projects including “The Vessantara Jataka”, “Chitralada Academic Fair”, and an album titled “Dang Duangjai”. This features two CDs, the first containing songs in honour of all the kings of the Ratanakosin period, and the second CD featuring a further 10 tracks penned by Thanpuying Maneerat Bunnag, Thanpuying Puangroi Apiwongs, Khunying Malaiwal Boonyaratavej, Khunying Kulasap Kesmaenkit, Kittikhun Thapani Nakhonthap, Kamchai Thonglor, Rerngchai Thonglor, Silaporn Buasai, Boyd Kosiyabong, Pongprom Snitwong Na Ayuthaya, and Dolchai.

The vocalists include Rudklao Amratisha, Sumet Ong-art, Maleewan Jemina, Saovanit Navapan, together with alumni ML Kwanthip Devakul, ML Saralee Kitiyakara, Punkorn “Dunk” Bunyachinda, Suveera Boonrod, Pimdao Panichsamai and Dr Jaruwaree Snidwongse Na Ayuthaya.

 

ROYAL COMMAND

 

- The performances take place on June 16 in the presence of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha and on June 17 in the presence HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

- Tickets cost Bt2,000 to Bt10,000 for June 16 and Bt5,000 to Bt20,000 for June 17. For details, call (02) 280 4830-1 ext 1111.

- Proceeds from concert tickets and CD sales will be donated to the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Foundation for Chitralada.