Jukebox or soap box?

When will we get to watch a real jukebox musical that offers a new interpretation of songs we know and love, like, for example, we enjoyed in “Mamma Mia”?

Aspiring director Santi Torwiwat was highly acclaimed for his professional debut “Wedding Day: The Musical” last year; but 10 minutes into Scenario’s revival production of “Lom Haichai: The Musical”, made a few very unprofessional mistakes. First, he had his conductor Piti Kayoonpan milk the audience’s applause – as if the audience hadn’t noticed that the music ensemble were upstage, not in the orchestra pit and as if this was not going to be an entertaining performance. Then, he had his supporting actors, portraying waitresses in a bar called “Three Seasons” do some movements reminiscent of the 1990’s British music theatre “Stomp”. And when we looked carefully at the details of this bar, we saw the logo of another famous bar, which happened to be a sponsor of this musical. Too much commercial plug-in, and as a result, I have now stopped going to that famous bar.

The script, which was written by seven wordsmiths – another record – didn’t help the young director either. The lead character Phat revealed the main theme in his first monologue, that we should truly live every moment in our life, but in the end, as the script slightly went off track, we’ were supposed to learn how to “Pass the love forward.” And throughout the running time of two hours plus, we felt that the script, which is so plot-driven that we learn very little about the characters’ backgrounds, was trying any possible way to get to a right moment for another song by Boyd Kosiyabong to begin. And when it did, we didn’t hear the new interpretation that we were expecting – just a cover version performance of these songs we know and love. Entertaining and predictable this musical was; romantic and touching it was not.

Napat “Gun The Star” Injaieua portrayed film director Phat – in the original version seven years ago this character was an architect – who couldn’t speak from his heart to his girlfriend Fon until it was too late. His performance reminded me of that of another Scenario regular Sukrit “Bie The Star” Wisetkaew. He was concentrating more on the audience, instead of his scene partners. Neungthida “Noona” Sophon, after getting a chance to develop a more mature character a few months ago in another musical “Thiraracha”, was back in the same stereotype of helpless young woman. That said, her singing skills have significantly improved and many audience members now look faorward to watching her in another stage musical. 

Completing the love triangle was celebrated pianist Saksit “Tor” Vejsupaporn, who’s making his theatre debut in this musical. It was clear that he enjoyed putting his fingers on the keys more than singing and acting, and as a result his character To, secret admirer of Fon, occasionally disappeared from our focus. And to complement To’s piano prowess, the set designer placed a piano inside Phat’s apartment even though neither he nor his girlfriend, was able to play it. 

As the three leads had some flaws, the show was stolen effortlessly by veteran singer Thanaporn “Parn” Waekprayoon whose portrayal of Chan keenly balanced comedy and drama and was filled with sincerity and compassion.

The curtain call gave me a sense of a deja vu as I found myself having exactly the same thought as seven years ago. 

I should have just listened to Boyd Kosiyabong’s double album “Million Ways to Love” again instead of spending time and money on “Lom Haichai: The Musical”. 

 

MORE SHALLOW BREATHS

- “Lom Haichai: The Musical” continues this Friday to Sunday, and September 9 to 11. At Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre (MRT: Thailand Cultural Centre). 

- Show time is 7.30pm with 2pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday. 

- Tickets cost from Bt500 to 

Bt 3,000, at ThaiTicketMajor. For more info, www.Rachadalai.com.