Water-Time Play Review in Bangkok, Thailand
A Production by the Life Theatre Group Enjoys its Second Run
Sep 11, 2009
Directed by Ning Bhanbhassa, Water-Time is a three character piece by the Life Theatre group that explores the challenges of a troubled relationship and the obstacles of culture and communication. Taking place in New York, the play features a Japanese playwright married to a working actress from Thailand. Although, at first the play seems uneven, it manages to settle and is ultimately an engaging, well produced work that leaves a lasting emotional impact.
Asians Lost in Translation
Shogo Tanikawa, the play’s writer and male lead, plays Kenji, an intense, self-absorbed playwright married to Heen Sasithorn’s character Nam, an aspiring actress waiting tables in New York City. The play opens with tension between the two as they go through the familiar quarrels of expectations and financial difficulties in a relationship. As the characters become angry and frustrated with each other they slip into their native languages further confusing and irritating their companion.
The piece is well paced as the tension leads to causal comfort and back to anger leaving the viewer with a sense of Kenji and Nam’s relationship. They’re speaking, but not to each other. Yo Apirak plays their neighbor A and has a light comedic touch. Speaking both Thai and Japanese, he plays the mediator and provides ample comic relief when on stage. Here miscommunication provides relief and comfort as it allows everyone to believe in their hopes.
Water-Time is engaging throughout as Nam entices Kenji who is over involved with his work. As she re-enacts their courtship with a reluctant Kenji, the pair who at first are not believable as a couple, begin to show a greater range of emotions. By the play’s climax the actors have demonstrated their ample ability and the final sequence leaves a lasting impression. As Water-Time navigates cultural and communication barriers the result is a heartfelt piece about not leaving things unsaid.
A Play in English, Japanese, and Thai
Given the multinational cast and theme, the challenge of using different languages is prominent, and subtitles are projected on the back wall as the characters slip between languages. While reading the subtitles is occasionally a challenge, the disorientation of different languages adds to the effort. The set is small, a single room with furniture and books strewn about in the intimate setting of the Crescent Moon Space Theatre. At just under 90 minutes,Water-Time is an excellent addition to the theatre scene in Bangkok.
Water-Time will be restaged the Crescent Moon Space housed at the Pridi Bhanomyong Institute on Sukhumvit Soi Thong Lor from September 11-13 and September 18-20.
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