The Four Sisters

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in THE NATION:

_____

 

The Gay Story that's Real

 

By Pawit Mahasarinand

Special to The Nation

February 5, 2010

 

'The 4 Sisters' begs to show the honest side of life on the other side

 

In this prolific year of queer theatre, "Chan Phuchai Naya" ("I Am a (Wo)man"), Dr Seri Wongmontha's adaptation of Broadway hit "Boys in the Band", is currently running at Aksra Theatre. Later in the year, Scenario will stage the Thai translation of another Broadway classic, "La Cage Aux Folles", at Rachadalai Theatre.

 

In between, a much smaller production, "The 4 Sisters" by Life Theatre, has no television stars in the cast, and is receiving less attention from the media. But it's worth our attention and attendance because it's the only one of the three that's entirely based on true stories of Thai gay people.

 

"I have many gay friends and know that what we're watching on TV and in the movies are not the true representations of them," says director Bhanbhassa "Khru Ning" Dhubtien, who was last year acclaimed for her title role in "Nangfah Niranam" and her staging of compelling drama "Water Time".

 

"Most frequently, they're comedians on screen, but I want the audience to have a chance to look at them as human beings. And so I asked Shogo [Tanikawa, Life Theatre's resident playwright] to write a play based on the true stories and experiences of three gay friends [who are also professional actors] - Apirak 'Yo' Chaipanha, Sun 'King' Tawanwongsri and Setthaphan 'Graph' Sernthaisong - whom I'd like to see share the same stage."

 

The play is set in a cabaret bar, which is going out of business after 30 years.

 

Khru Ning adds, "Although the play is generally classified as a comedy, has quite glossy PR photos, as well as some entertaining cabaret performance sequences, we also show some true problems these gay characters are facing. One of them is having trouble showing his true sexual identity in his office - he just can't step out of the closet. Another is getting older, sick, past his prime, and about to retire, without any family member to take care of him. And the last one is a wannabe who's trying his best to become a star of the show but after many attempts not succeeding yet.

 

"The play started out as 'The 3 Sisters', but then Shogo suggested we should have a woman character so we added this character who's the daughter of the bar owner. It's to be performed by Heen [sasithorn Panichnok, a co-founder of Life Theatre whose performance in films 'Chandara' and 'Talumpuk' made her famous]. Another straight character is a Karen waiter, portrayed by Shogo [who's Japan-born and Thailand-bred]."

 

On screen, some actors have delivered great performances of gay characters and are prone to winning major awards - Tom Hanks in "Philadelphia", for example.

 

Kru Ning, who teaches acting and directing at Chulalongkorn University and is a permanent member of New York City's Actors' Studio, comments, "The audience may be more excited, perhaps, if we cast straight actors in gay roles, and it can be a selling point. I don't look at this issue in that perspective though. In this case, it's these three gay actors' own stories and I think it's fair to give them a chance to portray them as who they are, not as comedians."

 

"The 4 Sisters" is already the third production from the 10-month-young group Life Theatre whose three core members are the playwright Shogo, the director Khru Ning, and the actress Heen.

 

"I used to have this kind of small theatre troupe when I was working in New York. I think it's practical and fruitful and each and every one knows his role and work accordingly. Shogo and Heen worked together and I like their chemistry and the work that came out of it so three of us formed Life Theatre last year, and it's working smoothly."

 

"The 4 Sisters" will be the first production at the new Blue Box Theatre, a studio space at M Theatre - a praiseworthy vision of Dreambox's artistic director Daraka Wongsiri. In fact, large and small performance spaces sharing the same roof is a standard practice in theatres and performing arts centres all over the world, yet not common enough here.

 

"Daraka is very kind in renting this new space to us at a very reasonable price. It's also a little larger than the other two spaces our previous two productions were in [Crescent Moon Space and Makhampom Studio]. It seats about 70 people, so it's very intimate and fits the setting of the play. We'll get enough audiences to cover the cost, and don't have to perform as many shows as when we're in smaller spaces. Plus, audiences already know M Theatre, so it's convenient for them as well."

 

Good news for our English- and Japanese-speaking readers, like in all plays by Life Theatre and productions by Shogo, "The 4 Sisters" will be performed with Japanese and English subtitles, making sure that language is not a barrier to enjoy contemporary Thai theatre.

Details

 

"The 4 Sisters" opens on February 19 and runs until February 19 and again from February 26 to 28, at 7.30pm, with additional 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

The venue is Blue Box Theatre, on the 2nd floor of M Theatre (New Petchaburi Road), with free parking at nearby Manoonphol Building.

 

Tickets are Bt350 (Bt200 for students), bookable online at http://www.BananaBooking.com, and by calling (080) 2600 7716. Check out http://LifeTheatre.webs.com for more details.

[Guest fountainhall]

"The 4 Sisters" opens on February 19 and runs until February 19 and again from February 26 to 28, at 7.30pm, with additional 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays

I think it's great that more grass roots theatre companies are emerging. This company's website has a lot of information. Please note that the first run is actually from February 19 - 21. I'm not in Bangkok that weekend but will try to go to a performance at the end of the month.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I would be very interested to see La Cage Aux Folles when it is in BKK.

[Gaybutton]

I would be very interested to see La Cage Aux Folles when it is in BKK.

I was fortunate enough to see it on Broadway with the original cast. It must be 20 years ago by now. It's a terrific show and well worth seeing.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I saw it in NYC too and in Chicago. I would like to take my bf to see it.