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
Permalink : http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/danceandtheatre

Friday , May 9 , 2008

LOVE through HELL

Posted by dance_and_theatre , Reader : 285 , 18:29:49 | Category : Dance 2008 Theatre 2008

After its hit, one-evening-only presentation of opera scenes in "Mozart in Mischief" as part of last year's Bangkok Theatre Festival, NUNi (short for Never Underestimate New Ideas) Productions continues to live up to its name with "The Orpheus Schemata". "This is theatre based on emotion, memory and experience, rather than narrative," says co-director Bua Rajadhon of the new work, subtitled "A Liminal Theatre Production". This interdisciplinary work - inspired by the Greek myth 'Orpheus and Eurydice' and Gluck's opera of the same story - consists of movement, sound, monologue and stage acting. "It started from an image that kept recurring to me. A man, fronting the audience, is holding a woman, who has her back to the audience. No matter how hard he tries to hold on to her, she keeps slipping onto the floor. I mentioned this to faculty colleague [and co-director] meLê Yamomo, and he said, 'That's Orpheus.' And so we came up with the central theme that 'You go through hell to find love, but you lose love at the end anyway', then we looked at various stories, fictional and non-fictional, from different cultures." Thus, the Greek myth has become the stories of the Burmese border wreaking havoc to separated lovers; the sleazy red light district and the stigma of Farang-Asian relationships; the pain and devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami; and the destructive gap between the old Thai generation—and their beliefs in witch doctors, love potions, and the caste system—and the postmodern ways through which the new generation finds love. “On the stage, as a gimmick that would help the audience differentiate one scene from another, we’ll present each scene in the fashion of BTS and MRT stations, at each of which many incidents take place.” Daily Xpress photo “Both meLê and I will also perform, in addition to [NUNi’s co-founder and renowned baritone] Saran Suebsantatiwongse, and three Assumption University students—a Russian, a Filipino, and a Japanese-Filipino. So, we have quite an interesting mix of cast members.” Although English is the main language of the production, other languages will also be spoken, and there are English and Thai translations in the programme, as well as in the video projections accompanying the performance, Bua says. "We've designed 'Orpheus' as a compact production, very universal and for an international audience. We're planning to take it to a fringe-theatre festival in Taiwan in September." "The Orpheus Schemata" performs on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, and from Friday, May 16 to Sunday, May 18 at Makhampom Studio, a five-minute walk from Saphan Kwai Skytrain station. Showtime is 7:30pm, with 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost Bt200 (Bt150 for students), bookable at 08 6 900 0445. Click to www.NUNiProductions for more details. .com written by Pawit Mahasarinand published in Daily Xpress on Friday, May 9, 2008

After its hit, one-evening-only presentation of opera scenes in "Mozart in Mischief" as part of last year's Bangkok Theatre Festival, NUNi (short for Never Underestimate New Ideas) Productions continues to live up to its name with "The Orpheus Schemata".

"This is theatre based on emotion, memory and experience, rather than narrative," says co-director Bua Rajadhon of the new work, subtitled "A Liminal Theatre Production".

This interdisciplinary work - inspired by the Greek myth 'Orpheus and Eurydice' and Gluck's opera of the same story - consists of movement, sound, monologue and stage acting.

"It started from an image that kept recurring to me. A man, fronting the audience, is holding a woman, who has her back to the audience. No matter how hard he tries to hold on to her, she keeps slipping onto the floor. I mentioned this to faculty colleague [and co-director] meLê Yamomo, and he said, 'That's Orpheus.' And so we came up with the central theme that 'You go through hell to find love, but you lose love at the end anyway', then we looked at various stories, fictional and non-fictional, from different cultures."

Thus, the Greek myth has become the stories of the Burmese border wreaking havoc to separated lovers; the sleazy red light district and the stigma of Farang-Asian relationships; the pain and devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami; and the destructive gap between the old Thai generation—and their beliefs in witch doctors, love potions, and the caste system—and the postmodern ways through which the new generation finds love.

“On the stage, as a gimmick that would help the audience differentiate one scene from another, we’ll present each scene in the fashion of BTS and MRT stations, at each of which many incidents take place.”

Daily Xpress photo

“Both meLê and I will also perform, in addition to [NUNi’s co-founder and renowned baritone] Saran Suebsantatiwongse, and three Assumption University students—a Russian, a Filipino, and a Japanese-Filipino. So, we have quite an interesting mix of cast members.”

Although English is the main language of the production, other languages will also be spoken, and there are English and Thai translations in the programme, as well as in the video projections accompanying the performance, Bua says. "We've designed 'Orpheus' as a compact production, very universal and for an international audience. We're planning to take it to a fringe-theatre festival in Taiwan in September."

"The Orpheus Schemata" performs on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11, and from Friday, May 16 to Sunday, May 18 at Makhampom Studio, a five-minute walk from Saphan Kwai Skytrain station. Showtime is 7:30pm, with 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost Bt200 (Bt150 for students), bookable at 08 6 900 0445.

Click to www.NUNiProductions for more details. .com

written by Pawit Mahasarinand

published in Daily Xpress on Friday, May 9, 2008

Post comment | send mail to friend

Comment

"If you are not member, please register to comment.
It take only a few steps."

member sign in | member register

name :
email :
website :
comment :

		back top

<<	May 2008					>>
s	m	t	w	t	f	s
				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30	31