Steering on stage

“At Peel the Limelight, we try and choose works that will make our audiences ask questions,” says director Peter O’Neill, explaining why he has chosen Paul Vogel’s critically acclaimed play for the company’s fourth production in less than two years.

“We’ve developed a strong and loyal audience base and they expect to come and see confrontational, intimate and challenging works from us – it’s why they follow us and keep coming back. ‘How I Learned to Drive’ is one of those plays. It shows us the grey area and asks us to question what we see.”

The past three works by this company prove that they have been walking the talk. First there was Martin Sherman’s “Bent” staged at Petralai Management Theatre in May 2014. That was followed last February when Peel the Limelight became Spark Drama’s resident company by Rajiv Joseph’s “Gruesome Playground Injuries”. And they also performed as part of Bangkok Theatre Festival 2015, staging Shaun Prendergast’s “The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World”. 

Not only was that a box office hit but IATC Thailand also championed the director, O’Neill himself, with best direction award and the production of “Julia Pastrana” itself was one of the three finalists for best play award.

Set in rural Maryland, “How I Learned to Drive” relates an affair between its protagonist Li’l Bit and her Uncle Peck from her early to late teens before she finally ends it. Notwithstanding the dark themes, the play is filled with humour. 

O’Neill adds, “I think the issues raised in the play are sadly relevant in every city and town, not just Bangkok. The cycle of abuse continues throughout the world.”

In addition to the Pulitzer, US’s top prize in literature, the play also won an Obie, a Drama Desk Award, a New York Drama Critics’ Award, an Outer Circle Critics Award, and the Lucille Lortel Award, and has been staged in many US cities and countries as well as translated into several languages.

“We have not seen this play before and we prefer to approach our productions with a truly fresh and clear mind to let the text speak to us and not be influenced by someone else’s vision of the work,” O’Neill says.

Professional Thai actress Siree Riewpaiboon, who was also nominated for best performance by a female artist award for “Julia Pastrana”, has been cast as L’il Bit.

 “We’ve worked with her on all four of Peel’s productions,” O’Neill says, Her first involvement was on the production side with ‘Bent’ and both [producer] Jaime Zuniga and I were intrigued when she explained she had studied acting. When we decided to stage ‘Gruesome’, I read the play with her in mind. I find her instincts and approach to text exciting and intriguing: she doesn’t shy away from gritty and emotional roles and has a subtle skill with language that I find unmatched in Bangkok actresses. Her performance in ‘Julia Pastrana’ was skilful and beautiful.”

British actor James Laver, last year’s IATC Thailand Awards nominee for best performance by a male artist for “Boxes”, portrays Uncle Peck.

 “He’s also been involved with Peel on three productions and the best work I’ve seen him do was in ‘Julia Pastrana’,” O’Neill says. “He also has a finesse with language and is probably the best trained [expat] actor currently working in Bangkok.”

Rounding out the cast are Nick Gallagher as the Greek male chorus, Mandi Manson as first female Greek chorus, and Claire Stanley as second female Greek chorus. The set and costume design is by Kochawan Chayawan and the sound design by Surasak Kerdsin, providing proof that Peel the Limelight continues to combine Thai and expat talent in their works.

 

LIFE LESSONS

- “How I Learned to Drive” is at 7.30pm from Thursday to Saturday and from March 10 to 12 at Spark Drama. It’s in English with Thai surtitles. The venue is on the second floor fof the Jasmine City Building on Sukhumvit 23.

- Tickets are Bt600 (Bt450 for students; Bt300 for school groups).

- For details, check www.PeelTheLimelight.com, Facebook.com/PeelTheLimelight or call (086) 095 9995.