Films are so daft

If a movie's outrageous leaps from reality have ever made your jaw drop, Sonthaya Suchada has a funny story to share.

Since winning the Sodsai Award as a senior at Thammasat University in 1994, Sonthaya has consistently presented thought-provoking and entertaining shows, "The Insane and Sudsakorn" among them.

In 1997 the playwright and director adapted Win Leowarin's short story "48-Hour Literature" for the first Bangkok Fringe Festival. The satire on contemporary Thai fiction had a retired author taken hostage at a writer's association party. The other scribes have to save him by completing a melodrama-packed novel within 48 hours.

"In the end we realise that what happens in life can sometimes be as melodramatic as popular novels," says Sonthaya.

Last year he recruited four directors at a Makhampom workshop to re-stage the play, this time satirising the creation of contemporary Thai theatre. That hilarious version, "24-Hour Theatre", closed the 2008 Bangkok Theatre Festival.

Put on the mask

And now, since most people know more about movies than theatre, Sonthaya has come up with "Insee Dang Plang Rit". Call it "24-Hour Cinema".

"In this version, a former indie film director is taken hostage by a thug wearing an Insee Dang mask," he says, referring to screen actor Mitr Chaibancha's best-known role.

"The hostage taker wants three other directors to write a screenplay within 24 hours that has a ghost, a miserable woman and a jealous woman."

One of the directors is renowned in gay cinema, another is a former action-film star, and the third is a woman who makes tearjerkers.

"The comedy pokes fun not only at Thai cinema but also modern society in general," promises Sonthaya.

The cast includes Makhampom's leading funnyman Sarayut Petsamrit and veteran theatre actors Surachai Midam and Neelacha Fuengfookiat.

TV producer Piyamat Waiya-wat returns to the footlights, and Worawit Kaewpetch, star of the 2003 historical battle epic "Khunsuk", makes a rare stage appearance.

 ANYTHING GOES

>> "Insee Dang Plang Rit" is at the Makhampom Theatre Studio tomorrow through Sunday, daily at 7.30 with 2pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday.

>> Tickets are Bt300 (Bt200 for students).

 >> Call (089) 658 8823 or visit www.Makhampom|Studio.net.