The critical view
B-Floor theatre directors compete for honours from Thai Theatre Critics who also plan to honour veteran playwright Daraka Wongsiri
THE HISTORY of the International Association of Theatre Critics (IATC) dates back 60 years and its Thailand centre, now in its fifth year of operation, remains the only national section in the Asean Economic Community. With the continuous kind support of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), the Thai critics will again hold their IATC Thailand Dance and Theatre Review 2015 there on March 22, where they’ll hand out Thailand’s only awards for contemporary dance and theatre.
After giving the audience and artists their overview and analysis on what happened on stage in 2015 and how it affected the development of contemporary dance and theatre in Thailand, the critics will single out exemplary works in 11 categories, covering plays, musicals and movement-based performances. But the highlight, of course, is the Lifetime Achievement award, for which the critics have unanimously selected Thailand’s most prolific playwright Daraka Wongsiri.
A graduate of Chulalongkorn University’s Department of Dramatic Arts, Daraka co-founded DASS Entertainment – the first two letters of her first name are that of the company’s – now known as Dreambox, in 1990 and has since worked as its resident dramatist.
She has penned more than 30 plays and musical books known for well-rounded characters, up-to-date situations, and underlying social commentary. Theatregoers still can recall – and theatre students are studying – such dramas as “Kulab si lueat” “(“The Crimson Rose”, 1988) and “Sutsai plai rung” (“Where the Rainbow Ends”, 1991) in addition to such satirical comedies as “Thuen theuk” (“Old Maids”, 1992), which was later followed by three sequels, and “Sam sao sam sam” (“Three Misbehaving Women”, 1996).
Musical fans have been delighted by her adaptation of “Khu kam” (“A Doomed Couple”, 2003), “Mae Nak” (2009), “Pritsana” (2012), which won best musical book award, and last month’s “Mom”.
Critics are still mum about the winners in the other 11 categories, but have announced the finalists, including works by both commercial and independent companies and some of which you may not have heard.
Physical theatre company B-Floor was the year’s most productive and its works are spread across all categories in the nomination list with the exception of the musical. B-Floor has confirmed it won’t be staging one soon.
For example, and for the first time ever here and indeed a rare case anywhere, three directors from B-Floor are up against one another in the best direction award – Jarunun Phantachat for “Test of Endurance”, Dujdao Vadhanapakorn for “The Secret Keeper” and Teerawat Mulvilai for “Manoland”. The former two works are also nominated for best art direction category, in which another contender is a site-specific work “The Campus”.
In the best movement-based performance category, “The Secret Keeper” and “Manoland” are running against Pichet Klunchun Dance Company’s “The Gentlemen” whose cast is also contending the best performance by an ensemble award, up against “Manoland” and another B-Floor work “WW101”.
Three nominated performances by male artist are those of National Artist Suprawat Pattamasoot in “Hom Rong: The Musical”, Thongchai Phimanphansiri in “Whaam!: The Brief History of Unknown Astronaut” and Jaturachai Srichanwanpen in “3 Days in May”.
Their female counterparts are Jaturachai’s sole co-performer Parnrut Kritchanchai, Silpathorn artist Sineenadh Keitprapai in “S-21” and crooner Pijika Jittaputta in “Phaendin Khong Rao: The Musical”.
Nominees for best original scripts are “Ceci n’est pas la politique”, “Whaam!” and “3 Days in May”; for adaptation, “Norwegian Wood”, “Dogtooth” and “Malady of Death”; and for musical books, “Mangkon Salat Klet”, “The Lady of Siam” and “Wedding Day”.
In a year when we had a chance to watch a new musical almost every month, finalists for best musical award are Anatta Theatre Group’s “Mangkon Salat Klet”, Guts Entertainment’s Thai translation of “The Sound of Music” and Scenario’s “Wedding Day”.
And while B-Floor is not known for spoken drama, its “Ceci n’est pas la politique” was a breakthrough of sorts and has been nominated for best play, along with Splashing Theatre Company’s “Whaam!” and For WhaT Theatre’s “3 Days in May”.
Will B-Floor sweep the floor? We’ll soon find out.
PICK A WINNER
- The IATC Thailand Dance and Theatre Review 2015 is at 6pm on March 22 at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.
- For more details, check www.Facebook.com/IATC.Thailand.
