Love across the species

Rewritten and adapted for stage and screen more times than most of us can remember, Thais of all ages are familiar with the Chinese tale “The Legend of the White Snake”.
Not so long ago, Dreambox surprised theatre fans with a fresh take on the equally familiar Thai legend “Mae Nak Phra Khanong” and so I was expecting its recent production “Madame White Snake: The Musical” to also offer something different. Yet despite a script and lyrics by Thailand’s prolific playwright Daraka Wongsiri, “Snake” was little more than a revival of their play from 14 years ago, albeit with a new sung-through musical treatment.
One would assume that the 2013 audience probably wants to know how the White Snake, or Suzhen, falls in love with Xu Xian after one boat ride and marries him soon after. They are also curious as why her sister the Green Snake, or Xiaoqing, is so attached to her that she becomes desperate after her sister’s marriage, and why Fahai so despises the White Snake. Last, though in this case the opposite of least, is the reason why we need to watch this familiar tale on stage again, especially as Chinese New Year is in February, not November.
Veteran composer Kaiwan Kulavadhanothai’s music fit both the Chinese backdrop and Daraka’s lyrics and his collaboration with acclaimed music director Sutee Sangsareechon was again a perfect match – the music ensemble also included a few Thai instruments, which blended in very well. And yet, like the by-the-book treatment of the familiar story, the pleasant tunes sounded too standard to be memorable. In fact, when certain characters walked onto the stage, we could almost hum the music.
Teeranai Na Nongkhai delivered another memorable performance as the title character. Listening to her angelic voice and arresting characterisation, I found myself wishing most of the people performing in musicals here in Thailand could reach the same level and help our musical theatre scene to develop faster. Another acting and singing powerhouse was Tanee Poonsuwan as Fahai, although his role wasn’t as fully developed as Teeranai’s.
With Teeranai and Tanee setting the singing standards so high, it could have been difficult for other performers to match up. Yet Chatayodom Hiranyatithi captivated the audience with his characterisation of Xu Xian and made us forget the fact that he’s never been known for his singing prowess.
A delightful surprise was young singer and actress Nisachon Siewthaisong whose portrayal of the Green Snake was filled with so much sincerity and strong stage presence that I wished her role were meatier. Nest, as she’s known to her Academy Fantasia fans, showed much promise for a professional actress whose future work we can look forward to watching and admiring, and not just another starlet who became famous through reality TV.
Another seasoned stage actress Nithiwadi Tanngamtrong, who specialises in senior roles, was also memorable as Xu Xian’s sister but I wonder when she will be cast in roles equal to her age. Though not in this musical, Rudklao Amratisha is another case in point.

LAST WEEKEND
“Madame White Snake” continues from tomorrow until Sunday at M Theatre on New Petchaburi Road, between Thong Lor and Ekamai. Shows are at 7.30pm tomorrow and Saturday and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.
It’s in Thai with no English translation.
Tickets are Bt 1,000 to Bt 2,500, at www.BananaBooking.com. For more, visit “Dreambox Theatre BKK” at Facebook.