Daychawut Chantakaro, who as "Day Freeman" has been knocking 'em dead for years at drag-queen shows in the gay party clubs off Bangkok's Silom Road, has a whole new act on view in Phuket.

On Monday he unveiled "The Most Fantastic Beautiful-Men Show in Phuket" at the Phuja Nirvana Restaurant at the Central Festival complex.

Day - as producer, director, choreographer and occasional performer - is clearly delighted with the fresh opportunity after nearly 20 years in show business.

He's built a solid reputation as a gay entertainer, writer and sometimes activist, having appeared on TV from Japan to France to Britain - not to mention on the National Geographic Channel.

"They think my career is unusual," he says with a grin about the documentary filmmakers who keep showing up. "It looks so unlikely to be a success, so they tape me because it's so peculiar."

Day started out as a makeup artist, gradually learning about cabaret performing.

"I would sing while I was working, sometimes acting and dancing, according to my own imagination."

His confidence mounted and he started doing cabaret, complete with magnificent costumes.

When Day first started out, audiences were genuinely excited about the performers' beauty. They were stunned by the grand outfits and the amazing makeup.

"But today's technology can make all anyone beautiful," he laments. "The beauty of transgenders has become more common in the eyes of the audience."

And it used to be enough to belt out a popular show tune - lip-synching, of course - but now cabaret patrons expect lots of modern dance tunes as well.

Day is giving his Phuket audiences the best of both worlds, blending the old and the new.

"The show's being performed on a new stage, with new lighting and a new sound system and new costumes," he says.

"All 10 of our talented performers will do 10 to 12 turns a night, with two shows every night - one in a mini-theatre style at 7pm, and the other in a casual atmosphere in the bar downstairs at 10.30pm."

Day will be commuting weekly to the restaurant from Bangkok.

"I'll perform in the show myself if I'm there, probably every week."

Day's approach with the new show is to get the audience involved. He's included unique aspects of various cultures, both Eastern and Western, so that viewers can find something to identify with and even take part.

He's chosen well-known songs and trained his performers to use plenty of body language to sell the tunes.

"I simply encourage them to bring their spirit to the stage, and entertain at their best. At the same time, the show has to be easy to follow, without any language barriers."

Central Retail Corp has invested more than Bt10 million in the show for a six-month run. Some of the costumes costs more than Bt100,000.

"It's a small theatre - only 170 seats - so the audience will be getting a close look at us and our costumes, and we don't want to disappoint them!"

Vipasai Niyamabha

The Nation