Dance and Theatre

Previews, Interviews, and Reviews (yes, and Photos) of Dance and Theatre in Thailand (well, and elsewhere) written by "The Nation" dance and theatre critics
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Sunday , December 30 , 2007

THEATRE REVIEW: Cats the Musical

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 607 , 10:02:58 | Category : Theatre 2007

Now 25 years old, the feline fantasy "Cats" fails to inspire Bangkok audiences. When "Cats" opened on Broadway in 1982, New York Times theatre critic Frank Rich predicted that the production would run for a long time. This was, he noted, not because it's a brilliant musical, but because it "transports the audience into a complete fantasy world that could only exist in theatre....

Now 25 years old, the feline fantasy "Cats" fails to inspire Bangkok audiences. When "Cats" opened on Broadway in 1982, New York Times theatre critic Frank Rich predicted that the production would run for a long time. This was, he noted, not because it's a brilliant musical, but because it "transports the audience into a complete fantasy world that could only exist in theatre....

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THEATRE INTERVIEW: Cats the Musical

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 444 , 09:43:54 | Category : Theatre 2007

Two of the "Cats" actors who receives the loudest applause from Bangkok audiences night after night--Rohan Browne, who portrays Rum Tum Tugger, and Tony Farrell, who triple-roles as Gus, Bustopher Jones, and Growltiger--talk to Weekend. Browne, who performed Alonzo and under-studied Rum Tum in the previous tours of "Cats", says he uses his background as a dancer to bring Rum Tum....

Two of the "Cats" actors who receives the loudest applause from Bangkok audiences night after night--Rohan Browne, who portrays Rum Tum Tugger, and Tony Farrell, who triple-roles as Gus, Bustopher Jones, and Growltiger--talk to Weekend. Browne, who performed Alonzo and under-studied Rum Tum in the previous tours of "Cats", says he uses his background as a dancer to bring Rum Tum....

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Saturday , December 29 , 2007

THEATRE REVIEW: Born to Bite

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 382 , 21:30:54 | Category : Tel Aviv, December 2007

Walking into Theatre 1, a semi-thrust playhouse seating about 300 people, at Tzavta, a centre for fringe theatre in downtown Tel Aviv, the audience espies an actor in a green tree suit downstage left, engulfed by highly dramatic lighting. Oh, no, not another Disney production! Actually far from it - the characters in fancy costumes in this opening scene are enthusiastically searching for the killer o....

Walking into Theatre 1, a semi-thrust playhouse seating about 300 people, at Tzavta, a centre for fringe theatre in downtown Tel Aviv, the audience espies an actor in a green tree suit downstage left, engulfed by highly dramatic lighting. Oh, no, not another Disney production! Actually far from it - the characters in fancy costumes in this opening scene are enthusiastically searching for the killer o....

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DANCE REVIEW: About Khon

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 421 , 19:30:07 | Category : da:ns 2007, Esplanade, October 2007

Classical Thai dancer and choreographer Pichet Klunchun and French performance artist Jerome Bel have both been called enfants terribles by their respective nations. Not surprising then that their first collaboration, an intercultural performance dialogue entitled "Pichet Klunchun and Myself", drew festival crowds across Asia and Europe and garnered rave reviews. Their second collaboration,....

Classical Thai dancer and choreographer Pichet Klunchun and French performance artist Jerome Bel have both been called enfants terribles by their respective nations. Not surprising then that their first collaboration, an intercultural performance dialogue entitled "Pichet Klunchun and Myself", drew festival crowds across Asia and Europe and garnered rave reviews. Their second collaboration,....

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DANCE INTERVIEW: Pichet Klunchun on ABOUT KHON

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 510 , 19:11:40 | Category : da:ns 2007, Esplanade, October 2007

Internationally renowned choreographer and dancer Pichet Klunchun and leading French artist Jerome Bel return to the Asian stage , premiering their newest work, "About Khon", in Singapore on Friday (October 19) and in Bangkok on Sunday (October 21).This intercultural performance, for which Pichet will be joined by his LifeWork Company, has been developed from their earlier collaboration, &q....

Internationally renowned choreographer and dancer Pichet Klunchun and leading French artist Jerome Bel return to the Asian stage , premiering their newest work, "About Khon", in Singapore on Friday (October 19) and in Bangkok on Sunday (October 21).This intercultural performance, for which Pichet will be joined by his LifeWork Company, has been developed from their earlier collaboration, &q....

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DANCE REVIEW: The Show Must Go On

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 390 , 19:00:20 | Category : da:ns 2007, Esplanade, October 2007

We'd been sitting in darkness for about 10 minutes listening to a DJ's pop tunes when we realised there was no need to be a quiet, serious audience. And this proved to be the lesson in Jerome Bel's "The Show Must Go On" at Singapore's Esplanade Theatre Studio.Finally, nine men and nine women came onstage, dressed in casual street clothes, and stood there for a moment staring at us. Then the....

We'd been sitting in darkness for about 10 minutes listening to a DJ's pop tunes when we realised there was no need to be a quiet, serious audience. And this proved to be the lesson in Jerome Bel's "The Show Must Go On" at Singapore's Esplanade Theatre Studio.Finally, nine men and nine women came onstage, dressed in casual street clothes, and stood there for a moment staring at us. Then the....

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DANCE REVIEW: Telophaza by Batsheva Dance Company

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 352 , 17:59:25 | Category : da:ns 2007, Esplanade, October 2007

A highlight of the "da:ns 2007" festival at Singapore's Esplanade Theatre, Batsheva Dance Company's contemporary masterpiece "Telophaza" led the audience into undiscovered dance territory. Not only was this intriguing spectacle offered, but local professional dancers were also given a rare opportunity to participate in the world-renowned Israeli company's masterclass at Esplanade'....

A highlight of the "da:ns 2007" festival at Singapore's Esplanade Theatre, Batsheva Dance Company's contemporary masterpiece "Telophaza" led the audience into undiscovered dance territory. Not only was this intriguing spectacle offered, but local professional dancers were also given a rare opportunity to participate in the world-renowned Israeli company's masterclass at Esplanade'....

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DANCE INTERVIEW: Ohad Naharin of Batsheva Dance Company

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 342 , 17:22:46 | Category : da:ns 2007, Esplanade, October 2007

When the list of artists appearing at Singapore's "da:ns 2007" festival was published earlier this year, dance aficionados in Southeast Asia were thrilled to see that the event, held from October 11 to 21 at the Esplanade, included a performance by Israel's Batsheva Dance Company. That wasn't only because the troupe has a reputation for staging exciting and innovative works, but also becaus....

When the list of artists appearing at Singapore's "da:ns 2007" festival was published earlier this year, dance aficionados in Southeast Asia were thrilled to see that the event, held from October 11 to 21 at the Esplanade, included a performance by Israel's Batsheva Dance Company. That wasn't only because the troupe has a reputation for staging exciting and innovative works, but also becaus....

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THEATRE REVIEW: Israeli Puppet Theatre

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 436 , 11:08:18 | Category : Tel Aviv, December 2007

The media and theatre producers from around the world attending the International Exposure to Israeli Theatre 2007 fell silent as they watched Maayan Resnick's captivating solo puppet performance "Overflow" on Stage 2 of Jerusalem's Khan Theatre earlier this month. This thought-provoking show related the story of a lonely old man and his encounters with the three women who helped shape his ....

The media and theatre producers from around the world attending the International Exposure to Israeli Theatre 2007 fell silent as they watched Maayan Resnick's captivating solo puppet performance "Overflow" on Stage 2 of Jerusalem's Khan Theatre earlier this month. This thought-provoking show related the story of a lonely old man and his encounters with the three women who helped shape his ....

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Thursday , December 27 , 2007

THEATRE 2007 ROUND-UP

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 477 , 23:00:32 | Category : RoundUp2007

While there has been no shortage of stage productions this year, the most hyped theatre news of 2007 was without doubt the opening in May of Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre on Bangkok's Ratchadaphisek Road. This 1,450-seat proscenium playhouse was specifically built for musical theatre productions and is equipped to Broadway standards. House company Scenario has so far produced four styles of commercial....

While there has been no shortage of stage productions this year, the most hyped theatre news of 2007 was without doubt the opening in May of Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre on Bangkok's Ratchadaphisek Road. This 1,450-seat proscenium playhouse was specifically built for musical theatre productions and is equipped to Broadway standards. House company Scenario has so far produced four styles of commercial....

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Thai Translation of Contemporary Portuguese Play

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 469 , 22:42:11 | Category : Theatre 2007

Theatre enthusiasts may remember the excerpts of contemporary European plays staged at Thailand Cultural Centre's Small Hall four years ago by some of Bangkok's university theatre troupes. One of the most impressive segments offered was from "Universos e Frigorificos" ("Chakkrawan Lae Tuyen") by young Portuguese playwright Jacinto Lucas Pires. So the Thai theatre community was del....

Theatre enthusiasts may remember the excerpts of contemporary European plays staged at Thailand Cultural Centre's Small Hall four years ago by some of Bangkok's university theatre troupes. One of the most impressive segments offered was from "Universos e Frigorificos" ("Chakkrawan Lae Tuyen") by young Portuguese playwright Jacinto Lucas Pires. So the Thai theatre community was del....

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Tuesday , December 25 , 2007

DANCE INTERVIEW & REVIEW: Zurich Ballets Peer Gynt

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 366 , 22:19:29 | Category : Dance 2007

Heinz Spoerli, the dance master who thrilled Bangkok audiences with 'A Midsummer Night's Dream, brings Grieg's 'Peer Gynt' to his home stage.Two months ago, my dance reviewer colleague and I did something we'd never done before. We watched performances ofthe same ballet twice - less than 18 hours apart. It wasn't that we both dozed off during Zurich Ballet's Saturday e....

Heinz Spoerli, the dance master who thrilled Bangkok audiences with 'A Midsummer Night's Dream, brings Grieg's 'Peer Gynt' to his home stage.Two months ago, my dance reviewer colleague and I did something we'd never done before. We watched performances ofthe same ballet twice - less than 18 hours apart. It wasn't that we both dozed off during Zurich Ballet's Saturday e....

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DANCE 2007 ROUND-UP

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 527 , 19:57:49 | Category : RoundUp2007

The very fact that dance merits a separate round up from theatre this year speaks volumes about the number and quality of performances that Bangkok audiences have enjoyed over the last 12 months. Better still, these shows haven't been reserved for hi-so crowd but open to all. To begin with, we've had three world-renowned ballet companies, from Germany, Switzer....

The very fact that dance merits a separate round up from theatre this year speaks volumes about the number and quality of performances that Bangkok audiences have enjoyed over the last 12 months. Better still, these shows haven't been reserved for hi-so crowd but open to all. To begin with, we've had three world-renowned ballet companies, from Germany, Switzer....

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Monday , December 24 , 2007

DANCE INTERVIEW: Patravadi Mejudhon talks to Ohad Naharin

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 380 , 21:33:57 | Category : Tel Aviv, December 2007

Patravadi Mejudhon, the 59-year-old artistic director of Patravadi Theatre, is an acclaimed actress, dancer and director whose recent works have bridged the gap between dance and theatre as well as the traditional and the modern. Her biography is listed in every encyclopaedia entry for Asian theatre. Sitting across from her on the terrace of one of the Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre's tw....

Patravadi Mejudhon, the 59-year-old artistic director of Patravadi Theatre, is an acclaimed actress, dancer and director whose recent works have bridged the gap between dance and theatre as well as the traditional and the modern. Her biography is listed in every encyclopaedia entry for Asian theatre. Sitting across from her on the terrace of one of the Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre's tw....

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THEATRE REVIEW: Hamlet in the Holy Land

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 389 , 19:18:25 | Category : Tel Aviv, December 2007

When I told an old friend and fellow English Lit graduate that I'd watched two Shakespeare plays on a trip to Israel, he gave me a puzzled look. "What language were they speaking?" "Hebrew of course, with English surtitles," I replied. "Well, isn't the Bard's old English in iambic pentameter not foreign enough for us Thais?" he questioned. Actually, no, especially not i....

When I told an old friend and fellow English Lit graduate that I'd watched two Shakespeare plays on a trip to Israel, he gave me a puzzled look. "What language were they speaking?" "Hebrew of course, with English surtitles," I replied. "Well, isn't the Bard's old English in iambic pentameter not foreign enough for us Thais?" he questioned. Actually, no, especially not i....

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