"Sunflower" ploughs plenty of laughs from its tales of modern love, but plants some deep thoughts on relationships too.

When Nophand Boonyai premiered his first play, a comedy/ drama about modern relationship titled “Dokmai Nai Saengdad” (“Sunflower”) back in January, Weekend was among the first media to interview him. Then, many theatergoers were still wondering who he was and what kind of contemporary theatre he was creating. Two highly acclaimed “plays by Nophand” later—“Welcome to Nothing” and “The Adventures of Captain Dan”—in less than a year, the questions have been answered, and he has already developed a group of fans.

Oh, and have we mentioned that this young actor/ playwright/ director is also one of Cleo magazine’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelors this year? Yes, that’s partly why some of my students always buy tickets to his plays, and nothing’s wrong with that. Now we know that he is a new dramatic force to be reckoned with.

Lucky us: “Sunflower” is now being restaged as part of Bangkok Theatre Festival 2008. 

Tawan (performed by Waranyoo Intarakamhaeng) is an internet “love doctor” who cannot solve his love problem as he is in love with a doctor who seems to gets away from him. Oranong (Ornanong Thaisriwong) is an art director at an advertising agency who is having an affair with a married photographer. Nop (Nophand)—well, actually we don’t know what he does for a living—enjoys creating a good image for himself, especially in relationships. We find out in the end that he’s recently dumped by the woman he loves.

The three actors, three friends who helped bringing this play to life, were natural and worked well as a team who showed us how thin the line between love, passion, and lust is. Their speech was frequently fast, like how young people talk, but their diction was clear. The script allowed each of them to portray different characters, and Ornanong was a true chameleon. The funniest part was when they sought advice from the love doctor. Many comic punches were even sharper than the first run in January.

“Sunflower” is a kind of play that works best in only small- and medium- sized playhouses. Nophand’s use of the small performance space and limited number of props was deft. The white on the floor and the walls suggested different scenes. Music and lighting cues were effective and further enhanced the atmosphere, yet never outshone the actors and the play’s messages.

At the post-show Q&A last Friday, moderated by this writer, the full-house audience showed much appreciation to the cast and crew, and renowned critic Chetana Nagavajara commented, “There are lots of moral messages hidden in the play, but it seems that the playwright likes to deliver them slowly, taking detours through jokes and other stuff.”

Maybe that's why we had loved what we'd just seen: first there was laughter, then emotion, and finally the play made us think, leaving us to apply the messages to our own lives. 

The play’s opening weekend was so popular that the Sunday evening performance was added. In other words, call them and make your reservation now.

“Sunflower” continues its limited run for four more performances this weekend (December 4 to 7): Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm, at Crescent Moon Space, Pridi Banomyong Instutute (5-minute walk from BTS Thong Lhor). Tickets are Bt 300 (Bt 250 for students), bookable by calling 086 814 1676. For more details, visit www.CrescentMoonTheatre.com, or email InSeaDang@hotmail.com