In the month when the battle of “Mae Nak” reaches its boiling point, it’s important to note there are other plays that have nothing to do with “Mae Nak”.

Thanks to a young playwright-director, a long time member of Naked Masks Theatre Group, we have an original Thai play “Ron” (“Glide”).

Jaturachai Srichanwanpen says, “I took as my inspiration the end of my first play 'Plew' [staged four years ago] in which the two young lovers decided to end their lives by jumping off the Rama I Bridge.”

“What if they didn’t commit suicide? But instead the man yielded to his parents’ requests—he took over the family business like his father had asked, and married another woman his mother had picked for him; while the woman left for the US.”

About twenty years have lapsed and “Ron” starts when the woman returns to her homecountry. The two former lovers, now in their 40s, haven’t been in touch for the whole time. At the moment, the man has three children, and yet suspiciously returns home late today. In the US, the woman hasn’t been involved in any romantic relationships—she’s been staying with a woman friend of the man.

“I would call ‘Ron’ a comedy-drama [like most of Naked Masks’ plays].”

“Each play is complete in its own and I’m sure you don’t have to watch ‘Plew’, four years ago, in order to enjoy ‘Ron’ now. Most of the cast members are also different.”

“I’d finished half of the play before casting and starting rehearsal, and then I continued to adjust the dialogues so that they fit both the characters and the actors [five Naked Masks members, and two young ones who recently finished a workshop with the troupe].”

Unlike many Thai plays that have many scenes, like in TV soaps and movies, the one-hour one-act “Ron” is set in one location, the living room of the man’s house.

Jaturachai explains, “I’d like the audience to be engaged and involved with the play at all time, without being interrupted by scene changes, and this fits our small playhouse [a unit in Phyathai Plaza] much better.”

Jaturachai’s main message in this fourth play of his is simple, yet crucial in this day and age: “Smile, and the whole world will smile with you.”

“Yes, you can call me an optimistic person.” 

“Ron” is at Naked Masks Playhouse (Phyathai Plaza, near BTS Phyathai station, Exit 1), from Friday (July 3) to Sunday (July 5). At 7:30pm, with 2pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are Bt 200 (Bt 150 for students), bookable by calling 083 277 5356.