<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>There was
an opportunity in Seattle on Friday night, October 24<sup>th</sup>, to witness
an extraordinary performance of Thai music, dance, and puppetry. The Thai
Consulate General in Los Angeles sponsored a “Thai Cultural Night in the U.S.”
at the University of Washington in Seattle and will repeat this sponsorship at
UCLA on November 1<sup>st</sup>. Those in LA who want to see the performance be
warned – the tickets for the Seattle performance were gobbled up as soon as
they became available.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The LA
Consulate General sponsored “Thai Cultural Night in the U.S” to honor His
Majesty, King Bhumipol Adulyadej, on his 81<sup>st</sup> birthday and to
commemorate the 175<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the establishment of relations
between Thailand and the U.S.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The
event certainly was a success on both scores. It would not be possible to see
an equivalent performance in Bangkok unless it was a command one for a member
of the royal family.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The
performance was directed and introduced by Professor Anucha Thirakanont, the
head of the Thai Studies center at Thammasat University. We in Seattle were
treated to a number of classical dances, including one – “The Broken Tusk of
Ganesh” – using masks (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Khon</i>) that was
an episode from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ramakien</i>, the Thai
version of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ramayana</i>. While all dances
were exquisitely performed, one especially memorable was one in which the male
dancer appeared on stage in only a basic costume. He was accompanied by several
men who then proceeded to dress him in full traditional costume consisting of
numerous pieces, many of which had to be sewn on to the dancer. After spending
about 10-15 minutes being dressed, he then danced the “Kris Dance of Suranakong”
from the court dance drama <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Inao</i>. The
total effect of the dressing and is performance was electrifying.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">pipat</i> orchestra which accompanied all
the dances was a special treat on its own. Even their collective success was
surpassed by the solo performance on the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ranad
ek</i>, wooden xylophone, by Watcharakorn Boonpeng. His was truly a virtuoso
performance such as I have never seen or heard in Thailand except in the film <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Hom Rong</i> (“The Overture”), a film in
which Watcharakorn had a leading role.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The night
ended with a classical puppet performance of the episode “Hanuman and Benyakai”
from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Ramakien</i>. The dancers, who
were also puppeteers, entranced the audience with their orchestration of the
movements of Sida, Benyakai, Thotsakan, and especially Hanuman, the monkey god.
The performers even came down from the stage so that the puppets could engage
members of the audience, much to the delight of everyone.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>On behalf of
the University of Washington and members of the Seattle community I want to
thank Consul-General Jukr and his staff at the Consulate in LA who made it
possible for this exceptional event to take place in Seattle. It was a true
privilege to be at a performance so well directed by Ajarn Anucha and so
superbly presented by the troupe that accompanied him.</o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; ">Charles (Biff) Keyes</span></o:p></span></p><div apple-content-edited="true"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div>Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and International Studies</div><div>Department of Anthropology</div><div>Box 353100</div><div>University of Washington</div><div>Seattle, WA 98195-3100</div></div><div><br></div></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> </div><br><div><div>On Oct 22, 2008, at 7:30 PM, <<a href="mailto:justinm@ucr.edu">justinm@ucr.edu</a>> <<a href="mailto:justinm@ucr.edu">justinm@ucr.edu</a>> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><div>FYI.<br>Thanks,<br>justin<br><br>Thai Cultural Night in the U.S.<br><br>Saturday, November 1, 2008<br>8:00 PM<br>Schoenberg Auditorium<br>UCLA Campus<br><br>A celebration of the 81st birthday anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and the 175th anniversary of the establishment of Thai - U.S. diplomatic relations. The program will feature a traditional Thai orchestra and 20 members of a skilled cultural troupe from Thailand to showcase a series of Thai traditional and classical music and dances. The highlights will be the performance of the Thai classical mask dance drama "Khon" from the 17th century and a Ramakien (Ramayana) puppet play.<br><br>Please note that an exhibit in the Schoenberg Hall lobby will begin at 6:30 p.m. featuring demonstrations of Thai fruit and vegetable carving, garland arrangement, and other Thai arts and crafts.<br><br>Tickets: regular $30, students and children $10. Tickets available from the UCLA Central Ticket Office or online at UCLA Live .<br><br>Web announcement here. Map with parking and bus information to UCLA here.<br><br>Sponsored by the Royal Thai Consulate General of Los Angeles.<br>______________<br>Dr. Justin McDaniel<br>Dept. of Religious Studies<br>3046 INTN<br>University of California, Riverside<br>Riverside, CA 92521<br>951-827-4530<br><a href="mailto:justinm@ucr.edu">justinm@ucr.edu</a><br>_______________________________________________<br>Tlc mailing list<br>Tlc@lists.ucr.edu<br>http://lists.ucr.edu/mailman/listinfo/tlc<br></div></blockquote></div><br></body></html>