I have always loved a good old murder mystery, so I was particularly excited as I made my way into M Theatre on Saturday to see the Thai version of Agatha Christie's Go Back For Murder. Dreambox, the best troupe in Thailand for good old-fashioned fun, has brought rising stars and established names together for this engaging staging of the classic.
Karunpol Tiansuwan and Siriphan Wattanajinda in Roi Rak Roi Kattagam .
Go Back For Murder, based on Christie's novel Five Little Pigs, follows a young woman, Carla Crale, on her quest to find her father's murderer and prove her mother's innocence. Caroline Crale (Elizabeth Sitthicharoenyos) was convicted for poisoning her husband Amyas Crale (Karunpol Tiansuwan).
Before she dies, Caroline writes a letter to her daughter to say that she did not commit the crime. When Carla reads the letter 16 years later, she approaches lawyer Justin Fogg (Wittaya Wasukraipisal), the son of the lawyer who represented her mother, to ask him to help her find the murderer.
Carla succeeds in bringing the five possible suspects back to the scene of the crime to relive the moments leading up to her father's death.
Although the Thai title, Roi Rak Roi Kattagam, makes the play sound like a soap opera, Daraka Wongsiri's translation is otherwise seamless. Director Suwandee Jakravoravudh wraps us in a dark, suspenseful mood from the moment the curtain rises.
The music adds an eerie edge to the play, but it is occasionally heavy-handed and superfluous.
Elizabeth, who is taking her first stab at straight plays, doesn't seem to know what to do with her body and hands in the role of Carla. She is more intriguing and at ease as the temperamental and more three-dimensionally written Caroline. As loyal governess Ms Williams, veteran actress Ranya Siyanont is moving and captivating and pretty much impeccable. We cannot clearly see her face in her first scene when she is a stooped old woman, but the subtle trembling of her voice and body say it all.
Young and popular television and film actress Siriphan "Noon" Wattanajinda is almost unrecognisable when she slithers onto the stage as the older and more sensual Elsa Greer.
Her portrayal of the younger and passionately-in-love Elsa combines a delicious malice with an abundance of sunshine. Another notable performance comes from Karunpol whose Amyas Crale is convincingly irresistible despite his detestable traits.
All in all, the performers make up an appealing and dynamic ensemble worth spending an evening with.
Roi Rak Roi Kattagam continues tomorrow until Sunday at M Theatre, at 7.30pm, with a 2pm matinee on Saturday. Tickets are 1,000, 1,200 and 1,500 baht and can be purchased through www.bananabooking.com or by calling 080-260-0771_6.
