Japanese, Korean and Thai mimes slip quietly back into Bangkok for a weekend of quiet hijinks
Pantomime in Bangkok, July's great annual weekend of silence - except for the laughter and cheering - is back after a year's absence, starring the Japanese talents who got things rolling a decade ago.
The 11th edition spills out this weekend thanks to Japan's Asia Mime Creation (AMC) and Thailand's Signature Incorporation, a subsidiary of Work Point Entertainment.
AMC president Kojimaya Mansuke, who initiated the mime mini-festival, and Honda Aiya are now the duo Kanikama and are headlining with a hilarious new act called "Fortune Teller".
Just try not to empathise with the man who's just missed his bus, only to run into a soothsayer telling him everything that will happen next.
And not-so-petit Japanese Hatori Hisayo with her instantly recognisable Chinese mask has teamed with accordionist Yumiko Ota as the Guri Guri Girls.
Back after an even longer absence than the festival are Yamada Toshi and South Korean Ko Jaekyong, who earned rave reviews four years ago.
Making their Bangkok debut are veterans of the craft Chuusan, Imagawa Masakazu and Jidai.
The three members of Thailand's sole professional pantomime group, Babymime, were just members of the audience in the third year of the festival, but by the fifth were helping entertain the crowd.
It's safe to say that Babymime wouldn't be performing pantomime for a living if it hadn't been for their teacher, the mime master Paitoon "Khon Na Khao" Laisakul, who was one of the originals at Pantomime in Bangkok.
"The event has significantly grown over the years," says Babymime's Ratchai "Nging" Rujiwipatna.
"At first we saw the same faces in the audience year after year. More recently there have been more new faces, longer programmes and, unfortunately, higher ticket prices.
"We're very excited," Nging adds. "This event is always a learning opportunity for us as well as our fans.
"People usually just look for entertainment, but pantomime is much more than that. Here they get to see various artistic and aesthetic expressions from foreign masters."
The Babymime boys have plucked from their repertoire "Thai Ja" ("My Beloved Absurd Country"), a series of satirical episodes mocking "Thainess".
Created last year, it's gradually evolved with research and writing assistance from Piangpaitoon Satrawaha, who's doing a master's thesis on Babymime.
"Thai Ja" is a fitting choice for international gatherings - Babymine has been invited to perform it at the "Humour in Asean" conference in August as well.
"We only have 20 minutes," Nging says of this weekend's massing of the mime tribes, "so we've selected the four best and most hilarious episodes from 'Thai Ja'."
Shut up
Actually, go ahead and make some noise at Pantomime in Bangkok this Thursday at 7.30pm and Friday to Sunday at 2 and 7.30.
It's in the auditorium at Muang Thai Life Assurance, near the Sutthisan subway station's Exit 3.
Seats cost Bt800 or Bt1,000 at www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.
Find out more at (02) 615 1501.