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Preview: Thai-style Man of La Mancha in the offing
 
Maneeya Dhammataree
Originally written by American playwright Dale Wasserman, the musical format of Man of La Mancha has been brought up to date and given a local flavor by award-winning producer Yutthana Mukdasanit in tandem with the theatrical group Song Pad, Rachadalai Theater, and the support of the Scenario Company.
 Yutthana has said that he admires Don Quixote’s attempts to make the world seem a better place, and he also applies this concept to his production of Man of La Mancha, which will open in Bangkok on June 13. It was last performed in the capital about 20 years ago.
A Thai ‘take’ on things
The play was developed into a musical by composer Mitch Leigh and lyricist Joe Darion. The production team in Bangkok invited local lyricists to convey the original meaning into Thai without negatively affecting the original musical score.
Three lyricists were chosen, whose work reflected the characteristics of the original characters in the play.
Chalee Intravichit, 85, a national artist in 1993 (composer and film director), has a romantic personality, somewhat like the Don Quixote character in the play. He was selected to craft the lyrics for this character.
With a rich sense of humor, Surachai Janthimathorn, a famous 60-year-old folk singer, is responsible for the lyrics for Sancho Panze, Don Quixote’s man servant.
Meanwhile, Wisah Kuntup, a folk singer and poet involved in the October 1973 student uprising, was selected to write the lyrics for the character Aldonza, a prostitute who Don Quixote believes is in fact Lady Dulcinea. Since she has struggled to believe in hope, virtue, and morality before meeting him, Don Quixote’s admiration for her encourages her to dream of hope and a better place.
The production features 22 full musical scores, performed by an orchestra put together specifically for the show. It features some members of the brass band of the Royal Thai Navy, which is renowned for the high standards of its musicians.
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A taste of Broadway
The Rachadalai Theater has built a solid reputation for its musical productions. Its “Fly” technology allows up to 48 scenes to be featured within a performance. Its stage audio technology ensures the sound is crystal clear, adding to the overall standard of musical performances.
Producer Yutthana even set up a special computer graphics unit to create the musical’s multimedia components. He feels that the high-technology elements of the show will ensure he gets the dreams of Don Quixote over to the audience better.
The public will get the chance to see if Yutthana’s efforts live up to his aspirations during June 13-22. Rachadalai Theater is located on the 4th floor of Esplanade Cineplex.
Tickets for Man of La Mancha cost 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, and 2,500 baht. Tickets can be booked through Thai Ticketmajor on Tel: +66 (0)2 262 3456, or through its website at www.thaiticketmajor.com.
Transport:
Train: The Esplanade is located right off Exit 3 of the MRT’s Thailand Cultural Center subway station. |
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