The literary work of His Majesty
the King, "Mahajanaka", will be taken
on stage this weekend as a grand musical in which
more than 400 players will perform.
The Mahajanaka Grand Musical is a highlight of the
historic exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary
celebrations of His Majesty the King's accession
to the throne.
The Committee on Projects and Activities has teamed
up with JSL Co Ltd to stage the drama from tomorrow
until June 4 at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani.
The spectacular performance has been adapted from
"Mahajanaka", the latest literary work
by HM the King. Inspired by the story of one of
the Lord Buddha's previous lives, it focuses on
the virtue of perseverance as a guideline for sustainable
development through the use of dhamma riddles.
JSL executive vice president Pusacha Donavanik said
at a press conference yesterday at Government House
that, in the main, the performance would match the
theme of the King's book.
"We're trying our utmost to pass on all the
doctrines incorporated in the literary version.
But actually it's hard to tell the whole story in
a 45-minute show," she said.
The two main themes of the story have been selected
for the stage performance. One is Phra Mahajanaka's
persistent attempts to swim across the ocean, and
the other is Phra Mahachanok watching people in
his own town struggling madly with a mango tree
and then debating whether he will be ordained.
The performance will be divided into nine acts,
beginning with a scene portraying the gigantic vessel
of Phra Mahajanaka departing port for the open ocean
before being sunk by a storm.
"The entire surface of the arena will be transformed
into an ocean using modern light and sound techniques,"
said Pusacha. "The audience will be stunned."
About 200 soldiers will perform as the water, upon
which Phra Mahajanaka will float forwards. And 2,700
metres of fabric have been specially woven to create
the "ocean".
"It's a hard and impressive scene for me,"
said TV star Assadawut Loengsoonthorn, who stars
as Phra Mahajanaka. "I have to have trust these
hands [below me] won't let me fall."
Assistant Professor Kengkart Sukee is the show's
director and scriptwriter. Professor Bruce Gaston,
also the conductor, has penned 65 minutes of accompanying
music. Assistant Professor Dr Narapong Charassri
is the art director and choreographer, and Komol
Panichaphan designed the costumes.
The Mahajanaka Grand Musical will be staged twice
daily, at 2pm and 7pm. Admission is free. Reservations
are recommended and can be made at all branches
of Major Cineplex, with a Bt100 reservation fee.
Proceeds will go to His Majesty to benefit royal
activities.
"The contemporary musical incorporates dhamma
principles taken from His Majesty's 'Mahajanaka'
and state-of-the-art presentation techniques that
makes for an eye-catching stage performance,"
said Government Spokesperson Surapong Suebwonglee.
Surapong is secretary and member of the projects
and activities committee of the National Commission
on the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of His Majesty's
Accession to the Throne.
"The show is worth seeing, and the guiding
principles can help us all in our daily lives,"
Surapong said.
Chatrarat Kaewmorakot
The Nation
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