THE SCHOOL'S THE THING

Last year’s flood damaged Patravadi Theatre beyond repair. Patravadi “Khru Lek” Mejudhon, one of Thailand’s most revered theatre artists, confirms the rumour that her Bangkok complex, as well as her house on the Chao Phraya river, will soon be turned into a 60-room boutique hotel and small museum.
Her focus is now on Patravadi High School, a school 10 minutes’ drive from downtown Hua Hin where students study regular classes as well as various genres of arts. Unlike their counterparts around the country, they do not need to go to tutoring schools in the evenings and on weekends.
“The school has been running very well. I find the students very different from those in regular Thai schools. Because of the curriculum, which includes many arts classes, they have very good concentration and interest in other things in life,” Khru Lek says in a phone interview.
“Two classes have already graduated. We plan to add kindergarten and primary school classes next year and soon there will also be a college offering a bachelor’s degree. Some of them may not become professional artists but they will be very good audiences or even patrons of arts.”
With the focus on education, there is some bad news for arts lovers. There will not be a fringe festival, or month long showcase of experimental performing arts works from Thailand and overseas, at Vic Hua Hin, which is in the same compound as the school, like in previous years.
But with the focus on education, every Saturday throughout this month, Khru Lek is staging, choreographing and performing in Vic Hua Hin’s production of “Viva Phra Samut,” penned by King Rama VI, whose immense contribution to Thai theatre, especially his introduction of spoken dramas, earned him the title “Father of Modern Thai Theatre.”
“His Majesty wrote this in the age of colonisation and the main purpose was to educate Thai people not only about how to deal with foreign people but also economics and politics. And so my students, by working on stage and backstage in this production, have had an opportunity to learn these too. It’s more than just entertainment.”
While Khru Lek has made adaptations of many traditional plays, she has kept “Viva Phra Samut” exactly as it was, with some minor cuts, in order that “the students can completely learn also the literary language of that period which is different from today’s counterpart.”
Khru Lek has never staged this musical play before and her first impression of this dramatic masterpiece is not actually good.
“I read it a long time ago and I didn’t understand the educational values in it. I watched a production by the National Theatre and didn’t enjoy it. I always liked its songs, though, and the students have also been practising traditional songs, including those from ‘Viva Phra Samut’, in the morning after they sing the national anthem. In order to be relevant, culture needs to be in their blood.”
While students perform most major roles, professional actors like Sarawut Martthong, Wannasak “Kuck” Sirilar, this year’s recipient of Suwannahong Award and Khru Lek herself portray other roles. Music has been rearranged by veteran composer and member of the internationally renowned Kor Phai Ensemble Anant Narkkhong, who has worked with Khru Lek in many productions. Costumes are designed by New York-based Ruth Pongstaphone, another long-time collaborator of Khru Lek’s.
“We’ve invested a lot of money in this production but I think it’s worthwhile for education. In the past, when I staged productions for my company, it’s only for a few dozens of artists, but this is for the entire school.”
And so “Viva Phra Samut” is not simply a school production for parents and friends to watch, to raise fund for construction of any building or to celebrate any auspicious occasion.
Khru Lek also gives us a preview of next year’s production at Vic Hua Hin. “Because the students are also studying classical Thai theatre and music, we’ll stage a production on the lives of four demon characters from Ramakien – Thotsakan, Phiphek, Kumphakan and Sammanakkha.”
     GETAWAY
- “Viva Phra Samut” is at the Vic Hua Hin every Saturday until December 29 at 7:30pm.
- It’s in Thai, with English surtitles.
- Tickets are Bt500 to Bt900 (50 per cent discount for students). Call (032) 827 814-5 daily from 9am to 5pm or visit www.VicHuaHin.com.