A new musical experience
"The Wife" breathes new life into both the novel and contemporary Thai theatre
My first time in an American theatre 22 years ago wasn’t on Broadway but a small theatre studio in Seattle where I was astounded by a production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Assassins”.
Watching Bangkok Studio 41’s production of “The Wife: A New Musical”, the company’s adaptation of National Artist Krissana Asoksin’s novel “Mia Luang”, last Thursday at Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts reminded me of that experience. After being turned off by mediocre and less than memorable musicals throughout these years, only to be occasionally rejuvenated overseas by watching works like “The Book of Mormon” and “Once”, I have become something less than a fan of this genre of theatre.
Set in an arena stage where the audience is close to the stage actions and can hear the true voices of the performers, “The Wife” takes us into the married life of Wikanda. A fine-looking woman with an impeccable social and educational upbringing, she is married to Anirut, a man of equal breeding but with one flaw: he just can’t keep his hands off the ladies.
Capturing the heart and soul of the novel which is more than 800 pages long and seems better fitted to TV drama, the musical book is complete in itself. Scenes feel neither too short nor too long, there’s no rushing through any part of the story and no attempt is made to cram in more information. Like the novel itself, it proves that there’s more we need to know and understand about our patriarchal society and how it has been creating mia luang (legitimate wives) and mia noi (minor wives ). Thanks to our overexposure to TV soap depictions, we think we know all about them.
Performed with a piano, a violin and percussion, the music doesn’t try to do too much – it serves the dramatic purposes and doesn’t try to climb the pop charts. Even better, the lyrics fit the musical notes. Although it’s a work by three composers and another musical director, it sounds like the work of just one.
With two highly acclaimed title role performances in “Miss Saigon” and “Cixi Taihou” under her belt, Kanda Witthayanuparpyuenyong delivers a knockout performance with sheer subtlety, and clear diction. When she sang “I am his home” and “I am the legitimate wife” with such strong compassion, I found myself crying. I don’t have any direct experience of this mia luang-mia noi arrangement, but I thought of many friends who do and I understand them better now. Another two show-stoppers, who nail it with their characterisation and singing prowess, are Lalita Tubthong as Nuan, a maid and in-house mia noi for Anirut, and Phitchaya Muangsukham as the prime minister’s wife, from whose experience Wikanda could learn.
Much credit is due to director Chavatvit Muangkeo, who clearly understands how to work in an arena stage, not common in this country and a major challenge for any director, with only chairs as set-props and makes full and deft use of his ensemble of chorus actresses. He needs, though, to spend additional time coaching young actress Kamolvasu Chutisamoot as Nudee, a rural girl who becomes Wikanda’s assistant and another of Anirut’s mistresses. Despite having a beautiful voice, she was always upstaged by her senior actresses. Perhaps he needs also to rethink his characterisation of Orn-in, who looks and sounds too stereotypical in this otherwise unorthodox work.
Despite suffering from jetlag, I didn’t yawn once during this 150-minute musical.
It’s not yet the end of January and I’m sure I’ll watch many more musicals this year, but I’ve already made a note that “The Wife” is a strong contender for IATC Thailand Award 2016 for best musical, best book, best direction, best performance by a female artist and best performance by an ensemble.
And coupled with “Mom: The Musical” which ended yesterday, January has truly been a memorable month for Thai musicals.
SOCIAL SITUATIONS
n “The Wife: A New Musical” continues from Thursday to Saturday at the Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts at Chulalongkorn University. It’s in Thai with English surtitles.
n Shows are at 7.30 nightly and at 2pm on Saturday. The venue is on Henri Dunant Road, a 10-minute walk from BTS Siam, Exit 6.
n Tickets are Bt800 (buy four or more and it’s Bt600 each; Bt300 for students. Call (094) 931 3434 or visit www.BangkokStudio41.com.
