All the world's A STAGE

Published on September 19, 2007

Though Makhampom, one of the country's most significant contemporary-theatre companies, is still settling into a new studio, it's continuing to produce a wide variety of engaging performances.

Last Sunday, the curtain fell on its 10-performance, two-weekend run of "Khon Bah and Sudsakorn" ("Mad Men and Sudsakorn"), the satirical comedy written and directed by Sonthaya Suchada.

The performance opened with a young man named Kit - dressed in a white shirt and black trousers - walking from the back of the hall towards the stage. Along the way, he stopped to ask the audience for donations for needy children in the North.

Many gave.

We later found out that this was part of the play - a prank by the playwright.

Shortly after, Kob, a man in a T-shirt and jeans, appeared on stage, politely asking the audience for money to visit his sick father.

Some helped out, though he made a lot less than Kit.

Lastly, another man, Lid, tried the same trick, but was stopped by his boss, Kob.

Lid and Kob run into Bai, a deaf-mute man dressed in a bright blue shirt and startling red pants. Bai is asking for donations by lip-synching and dancing to music blaring from a boom box.

The three get together and start rehearsing scenes from Sunthorn Phlu's "Phra Abhai Mani", a drama on young Sudsakorn's adventurous search for his father, Phra Abhai Mani.

Kit shows up again, to offer tips on acting to the aspiring performers, before flipping them Bt10 for their efforts. He then joins the trio.

Like earlier productions, "Saphan Kwai My Love" and "Mahajanok: Never Say Die", "Khon Bah" uses few props, demanding skilful acting and storytelling.

The four cast members - Payap Kaewkred, Surachai Midam, Sarayuth Petchsamrit and Kittisak Saelor - complemented each other perfectly, engaging the audience for the whole 55 minutes of the play, whose lesson was that in this day and age nobody can be trusted. The work also questions the true meaning of charity, and helps the audience see that there are more professional "actors" around than just those gracing the television and movie screens.

However, despite these serious lessons, "Khon Bah" sent the audience off on a high note with the folk song "Tem Chai Hai Lhok" ("Willing to be Fooled"). Unfortunately, we all have to return to a reality filled with deceit.

Among the audience last Saturday afternoon were more than 50 primary-school students from nearby Rujiseri Wittaya School, watching as part of their study of Sunthorn Phu's "Phra Abhai Mani".

Hearing their laughter, and observing their concentration on the play and its dialogue was inspiring. It was one of the most fun afternoons I've had this year.

In order to develop audiences, theatre companies, including the more commercial ones, should perhaps follow this kind of educational outreach. After all, good theatre should never be limited to adults who can pay Bt2,500 a ticket.

Next on the bill at Makhampom Studio is a double feature with a solo performance by Sarawanee Utumma called "Somtam Chamrak" ("A Broken-hearted Papaya Salad Vendor") and a new play by Padungpong Prasatthong called "Kan" ("Her"). Both run from Friday to Sunday and September 28 to 30. Shows are at 7.30pm. Pay what you can afford at the door.

The studio is located at the Saphan Kwai intersection, right behind the traffic police booth and a five-minute walk from the Saphan Kwai BTS station. Call (08) 9754 1505 or visit Makhampom.net for details.

The writer can be contacted at Pawit.M@chula.ac.th.

Pawit Mahasarinand

 The Nation