A new theatre space opens with a realistic gay drama
A recent surprise meeting with an old college friend at a coffeeshop near my home reminded me that homophobia is still alive and kicking in Thai society.
My friend briefly introduced me to her husband who, after hearing that I was still single and had no kids, turned to me and asked, "are you a man?" I was too appalled to say anything and while I have no doubts about my sexual orientation, I was stunned by his rudeness and his obvious negative attitude towards homosexuality. His wife slapped him gently on the leg, and our non-conversation ended right there.
Given the nature of my work, I meet gay men everyday — and to me they are men — and if I ever started to get a little homophobic, I would need to find a new job right away.
But then perhaps if gays were presented on TV and in the movies less as clowns and more as human beings, that gentleman's definition of "a man" would perhaps be different.
Set in cabaret bar called Moonlight, which after 30 years is going out of business, the realistic gay drama "The 4 Sisters" is not filled with so much unpredictability, especially in the feel-good ending, as playwright Shoko Tanigawa's previous works, like "Christmas Story" and "Water Time". It is still a good observation on life, with some thought-provoking and entertaining details, like the fact that stage acts at Moonlight are never lip-synced, and so the performers have to come up with their own lyrics and sing them live.
Director Bhanbassa Dhubtien sets the right tone, offering a fine balance of drama and comedy, with the result that the audience never feels bored throughout the 90 minute running time. It would be better though if the three gay actors, Sun Tawalwongsri, Saitapan Sernthaisong, and Apirak Chaipanha, "performed less" when they're not on the bar stage, so the audience could both better empathise with them and their stories and see the differences between them as people and as cabaret performers.
The Japanese playwright also performs and he gives us another funny character, a illegal Burmese bar boy - just listen carefully to his mix of Japanese, Thai, and Burmese accents.
Subtly stealing the limelight from her male counterparts is Sasithorn Panichnok, who convincingly portrays the no-nonsense bar owner's daughter, the play's only woman character, although the weight of this supporting role is not enough for her to make it well-rounded.
Set and lighting designers have convincingly turned the small room on the second floor of M Theatre (now reconfigured, redecorated, fully equipped and known as Blue Box Studio) into a bar, with adequate room for 78 audience members on one side. A minor problem is whenever the door opens we never know if it's a character or a late-arriving audience member who's entering - we turn and look anyway. And although this bar only offers two brands of beer, the production's sponsors, and other brands of hard liquor (not the sponsor's), the former's product plug-ins are handled with artistic concern and are not overly aggressive.
"The 4 Sisters" is the third production, in less than one year, by a new group called Life Theatre, with three core members: Bhanbassa, Shogo, and Sasithorn. Not only does the subject matter of these three works vary significantly, but they have also been staged at three different venues. The first work, "Water Time", also performs at other venues.
Along with performing with Japanese and English surtitles, the group is expanding their target audiences. Who knows, one day more expat theatre makers may want to join them and strengthen this force as well.
"The 4 Sisters" continues today through Sunday at Blue Box Studio, on the second floor of M Theatre, New Phetchaburi Road. There's free parking at nearby Manoonphol Building. Show time is 7.30pm, with 2pm matinees tomorrow and Sunday. Tickets are Bt500 (front-row with one free drink) and Bt350 (Bt200 for students), available online at www.BananaBooking.com, and by calling 080 2600 7716. Check out LifeTheatre.webs.com for more details.
