Once in a while children benefit from theatre productions actually created for them, that grown-ups can also enjoy, rather than the other way around.
The current production by the Drama Department, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, is just that. Titled Tap Tap Talap Tap Tap (The Sound Of Dancing Crows), it is written and directed by Assoc Prof Pornrat Damrhung, who is well known for her work in children’s theatre.
Not long ago, when Pornrat and Sinnapa Sarasas, the play’s musical director, visited a branch of the Phufa shop, (an initiative where products made by local people under HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s initiated royal project are sold) and discovered a series of children’s books written and illustrated by the Princess. These 14 mini books contained a range of tales that the Princess once remarked were bedtime stories told to her by Her Majesty the Queen when she was very young. They were published in 2010 by The Occupation Development Project under the initiation of the Princess. The first book contained the song Doo Kwai (Watching The Buffalo), which Pornrat immediately envisioned as a short theatre piece.
“In fact, each of the tales — despite their brevity — contained their own message, philosophy, ideals and the Princess’ opinions that were positive, beautiful and humorous, and could all be turned into theatre plays,” she wrote in the programme book.
The Kaha bird and the old fisherman.
The 60th birthday anniversary of the Princess on April 2 this year provided the perfect opportunity to bring the idea of a “Story Theatre” to fruition.
The Story Theatre is set in a library, where the Librarian Fairy rules the domain of books. Acting as narrators are three characters whose role is to get the audience interacting with the actors. Along comes a little girl, Jiew, who has an aversion to books and reading. To ensure the survival of the library, the fairy has to teach her the value of books by taking her into story land, with the help of a stray cat, Boobie.
Jiew visits each story in turn, visiting the Thai countryside with its buffalo and myriad of other animals, becoming an artist in The Artist Who Drew A Rooster, observing the audience interaction as The Fake Musician, witnessing the disaster of The Three Chinese Monks, getting the audience zooming around the stage to visit The Tale Of The Island (Story Without A Moral), going to Tajikistan to see the mythical Kaha bird, and dancing away to the Ta Dee Mue Pae song.
Needless to say, Jiew’s views of books is changed, and the survival of books and libraries is ensured.
The charm of this play is the use of songs, brilliantly composed by Sinnapa and performed by the children’s ensemble of Wat Suthi Sa-ard School, puppets of every shape and size including hand puppets and shadow puppets under the creative directorship of Benjamin Ho of the Paper Monkey troupe in Singapore, and even a smidgen of contemporary dance by Napat Rodboon whose movements brought the Kaha bird to life.
Audience interaction can never be underestimated or directed, and the actors have to be ready to deal with all kinds of responses. It was these responses that drew huge laughter from the audience, and for a while, everyone was removed from the hustle and bustle of city life, and transported into the world of books and fairy tales, where cats can talk and books can fly.
With so much going on, however, there is the danger of spoken lines getting lost or being overwhelmed by the live music, enhanced by microphones and large speakers. But otherwise, it was an hour-and-a-half of fun and enjoyment for kids and grown-ups alike.
- Tap Tap Talap Tap Tap is being performed daily from today until March 1, with a 6.30pm show on Thursday and Friday, and two shows at 10.30am and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.
- Tickets are 600 baht for adults and 300 baht for children (children under 100cm tall can watch free of charge) are available through www.showbooking.com or the Chula Drama Department, 081-559-7252.
Singers and musicians of Wat Suthi Sa-ard School.
