Straying alive

Published on March 1, 2008

Arriving at the Makhampom Studio last Saturday night, some audience members were surprised to find rows of empty rice sacks serving as the backdrop to Bai Mai Wai Theatre Group's latest production - a double-bill of playlets called "Dog 8 Cat 9" ("Ma Hao Maeo Khuan" in Thai). The meaning of the title and the role of the sacks soon became clear. The play isn't about the kind of pets we adore so much we even insist they sleep on our beds, but unwanted animals for whom a sack spells abandonment and often death.

In the first play, written and directed by Kittisak Saelor, a Chinese shop owner is taken aback when she finds that her cat has given birth to six kittens. With little hesitation, she decides to get rid of these new burdens, not even thinking what kind of hardships the little ones will have to face after being dumped.

The kittens were portrayed by six children, who had participated in after-school workshops and rehearsals for two weeks. While they rushed through many lines, perhaps due to the limited amount of practice, their sincerity brought smiles to the faces of the entire audience. It's worth noting here that that this kind of truthfulness is very different from the acting techniques of some of their peers, now competing for young talent awards in Bangkok's department stores.

The second play, written and directed by Preechayut Saechang, shows how a puppy, already separated from his family, nearly escapes "the sack". The young dog is bought and raised by a new owner who renames him - which has him confused for a while - but is later dumped on the streets when he grows out of the cute and cuddly stage. A memorable moment is when he is taken outside and told to "fetch" - a trick that has always pleased his owner - then suddenly realises that this is the last command he will be told to perform. Parts of this touching story are told through biting comments by a flea and a tick who have been with the pup throughout his short life. This play ends with a short video showing, from the dog's viewpoint, what he faces on the streets.

While some audience members may have felt that the two plays were too short and their endings too abrupt, thus lacking sufficient emotional impact to make a real difference, "Dog 8 Cat 9" was nonetheless a good introduction to this frequently overlooked issue - and after all, it was subtitled "an experimental play", so further development should follow in due course.

The fun continued after the curtain had fallen as the audience was invited to stay on - and we all did - for an auction, the proceeds of which were to be donated to two charitable projects for stray dogs and cats, namely "Si Kha Nueng Hang Mai Tang Kan" (literally, "Those with Four Legs and One Tail Are Not Different From Us") and "Phuean Khang Thanon" ("Friends on the Streets").

It was amusing to see an autographed boy band CD auctioned off at a price lower than an unsigned one in the shops would cost, but audience members were very eager to bid against one another for paintings of cats and dogs, pushing prices surprisingly high. Those who didn't bid could just drop money in the donation box held by those endearing kitten actors - and we all did.

The theatregoing experience at this converted shophouse by the Saphan Kwai intersection is unique. This isn't just down to the wide variety of plays host company Makhampom and their Bangkok Theatre Network allies present month after month, but also due to the fact that all the productions are experimental in nature, allowing audiences to exercise their imaginations.

Besides, the admission fee for most plays is "pay-what-you-can", allowing anyone to enjoy them. This may sound like free TV, but the quality of production and careful selection of subject matter clearly exceeds what you get on the box. In addition, the seats are set up so that audience members in one section can see the reactions of those in the other, further enhancing the sense of community spirit.

"Dog 8 Cat 9" continues its limited run today and tomorrow at 2pm and 7.30pm. For information, visit Makhampom.net/studio, or call (089) 691 2247 for reservations.

Scenario's TV sitcom on stage "Kwa Cha Thueng Bang Rak Soi 9" and Babymime's first full-scale pantomime production "Babymime Show Vol 1" are both opening this weekend, at Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre and Pridi Banomyong Institute respectively.

The writer can be contacted at Pawit.M@chula.ac.th.

Pawit Mahasarinand

The Nation