[Tlc] T-cultural night

[Charles Keyes]

	There was an opportunity in Seattle on Friday night, October 24th, 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 1st. 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.
	The LA Consulate General sponsored “Thai Cultural Night in the U.S”  
to honor His Majesty, King Bhumipol Adulyadej, on his 81st birthday  
and to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the establishment of  
relations between Thailand and the U.S.  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.
  	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  
(Khon) that was an episode from the Ramakien, the Thai version of the  
Ramayana. 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 Inao. The total effect of the  
dressing and is performance was electrifying.
  	The pipat 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 ranad ek, 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 Hom Rong (“The  
Overture”), a film in which Watcharakorn had a leading role.
  	The night ended with a classical puppet performance of the episode  
“Hanuman and Benyakai” from the Ramakien. 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.
  	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.
Charles (Biff) Keyes
Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and International Studies
Department of Anthropology
Box 353100
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195-3100




On Oct 22, 2008, at 7:30 PM, <justinm at ucr.edu> <justinm at ucr.edu> wrote:

> FYI.
> Thanks,
> justin
>
> Thai Cultural Night in the U.S.
>
> Saturday, November 1, 2008
> 8:00 PM
> Schoenberg Auditorium
> UCLA Campus
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> Tickets: regular $30, students and children $10.  Tickets available  
> from the UCLA Central Ticket Office or online at UCLA Live .
>
> Web announcement here.  Map with parking and bus information to UCLA  
> here.
>
> Sponsored by the Royal Thai Consulate General of Los Angeles.
> ______________
> Dr. Justin McDaniel
> Dept. of Religious Studies
> 3046 INTN
> University of California, Riverside
> Riverside, CA 92521
> 951-827-4530
> justinm at ucr.edu
> _______________________________________________
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> Tlc at lists.ucr.edu
> http://lists.ucr.edu/mailman/listinfo/tlc

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