In their shoes

OVER THE PAST couple of years the constant checking of e-mails has given way to posting photos on Instagram as a form of communication. Images in magazines and on television have set the norm as far as beauty is concerned and an increasing number of young women are posting images of themselves clad in skimpy attire or bikinis, exposing their bodies to the whole world and never thinking of the consequences. Meanwhile, the interim government has promised, and reconfirms everyday via a propaganda song, the return of beauty, virtues and happiness.
Thus B-Floor Theatre’s new solo work “Ngam Na” – the meaning of which is way more sarcastic than its English counterpart “I Didn’t Launch a Thousand Ships”– came as a welcome respite to this social-network obsessed world.
Conceived and performed by Sasapin Siriwanij, it began in the foyer of the Pridi Banomyong Institute where each audience member was invited to pick a shoe, take it with them into the courtyard and place it with hundreds of others already lined up, before taking a seat on the stairs leading up to the main auditorium.
Sasapin entered the space reading her notes, familiar excerpts on beauty, virtues and happiness, slipping her feet in and out of those shoes. Fortunately, the rain gods took a nap on Tuesday evening so all audience members stayed dry though street noises muted many words.
Shortly after, we were asked to move into B-Floor Room, where the environment was more controlled and Sasipin’s performance more physical. Not only were shoes occasionally dropped from the ceiling, but miniature tanks and fighter jets too, and it became clear she wasn’t commenting only on beauty myths.
The performance enjoyed strong support from the design team whose members helped and never competed with one another. Set and props designer Surachai Petsangrot and lighting designer Varattha Tongyoo both deserve much credit for turning Pridi Banomyong Institute’s courtyard and B-Floor Room into an environment to which audiences are not accustomed, and costume designer Ornanong Thaisriwong also merits praise for the outfits that were both meaningful and practical.
While Sasapin delivered her messages successfully to the audience through spoken words and body movements – my French theatre-going companions were very surprised at how politically critical it was – the scenes were not well proportioned, the choreography predictable at times and the pace quite static throughout 70 minutes. I found myself wishing that Sasapin had worked with a more senior director and choreographer on this piece, instead of doing it all by herself.
 THREE SHOWS
 - “I Didn’t Launch a Thousand Ships” is in the B-Floor Room at Pridi Banomyong Institute on Soi Thong Lor until September 23. Shows are 8 nightly except Wednesday and Thursday. It’s in Thai and English. Tickets are Bt500. Call (089) 167 4039, or visit Facebook.com/BFloor.Theatre.Group.
- Across the hall in the Crescent Moon Space, On Box Theatre Group’s “Saman Tua Sutthai” (“The Last Schomburgk’s Deer”) runs from tonight until Monday at 7.30pm. It’s in Thai. Tickets are Bt380. Call (080 589) 1999.
n Democrazy Theatre Studio on Soi Saphan Khu, Rama IV Road, has 8X8 Theatre’s “Adit Sanghan” (“Killing Memory”), their hit from last year’s Bangkok Theatre Festival. It runs from tomorrow until Monday and is also in Thai. Tickets are Bt300. Call 089 762 5521 or visit Facebook.com/DemocrazyStudio.
- Tickets to any of these three shows gives you discounts on the others.