Chitralada School prepares for charity tribute performance
To mark the dual occasion of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s 60th birthday as well as its own 60th anniversary, Chitralada School is organising a charity performance, “60 Glorious Years: A Tribute To HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn And Chitralada School”, at the Thailand Cultural Centre on June 16-17.
The two and a half hour performance brings together over 1,000 past and present students, teachers and parents, all of whom are pleased and honoured to be able to show their gratitude towards the school and the school’s royal patron.
It will be the biggest stage production ever mounted by the school and takes as inspiration its two most important institutions: the monarchy and the school. The performance draws from traditional Thai arts such as khon masked dance, Thai classical dance and music, stage drama, as well as contemporary Thai and Western music.
Act One focuses on the House of Chakri, bringing to the fore achievements and contributions from each of the nine reigns. It begins with a khon entitled “Devaspha” to represent the concept of the King as a reincarnation of Vishnu. This scene includes an 18m-long serpent named Vasukri who was used as a churning rope to extract the ambrosia of immortality from the ocean of milk in Hindu mythology. HM the Queen has given her royal permission to bring Vasukri back to the stage after a 15-year hiatus, after it was created as part of a royal khon performance presented in China. The performance will feature present teachers and students of Chitralada School who have been rehearsing for over six months.
The greatness of each reign will be presented in the form of a musical, starting with the founding of Bangkok as the capital (Rama I), Golden age of literature (Rama II), Building connections with China (Rama III), Science (Rama IV), Abolishment of slavery (Rama V), Boy Scouts movement (Rama VI), Constitution (Rama VII), Young King (Rama VIII) and Development King (Rama IX). The cast includes several top names in the entertainment industry including Chatchai and Sinjai Plengpanich, Kriangkrai Unhanandana, Napassakorn Mitrteeraroj, ML Kwantip Devakula, ML Sarali Kitiyakara, Suveera “Q” Boonrod, Varut Pitaksorayuth and Pimdao Panichsamai.
Act Two begins with a full Thai classical music ensemble. This is followed by a khon performance “Matchanu Kumara — Battle Scene” starting from the birth of Matchanu up to the battle scene between Rama’s army and Thotsakan. Concluding this act will be a song and dance sequence by past and present students of the school, who will tell the history of the school through a musical selection.
“60 Glorious Years: A Tribute to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn And Chitralada School” will take place at 5pm on June 16, to be presided over by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, and on June 17, to be presided over by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Tickets are priced from 2,000 to 10,000 baht for June 16, and from 5,000 to 20,000 baht on June 17, and are available only from Chitralada School, call 02-280-4830 ext 1111 during office hours. Proceeds go to the Siam Boromrajakumari Foundation for Chitralada School.
On this occasion, a special set of two CDs entitled Dang Duang Jai have been produced by Dolchai Boonyaratavej, who is also the event’s creative director and music director. Over the years, Dolchai has composed several songs for the school, such as Khru which is now the theme song for the school’s annual Teacher’s Day ceremony.
The two CDs feature 10 songs, with the first set dedicated to the monarchy and the second set dedicated to the school. These are new recordings of old, timeless songs, sung now by leading singers Rudklao Amratisha, Sumet Ong-Art, Maleewan Jemina, Saowanit Navaphan, as well as old students such as ML Kwantip Devakula, ML Sarali Kitiyakara, Phunkorn Boonyachinda, Suveera “Q” Boonrod, Varut Pitaksorayuth and Pimdao Panichsamai, Jarutat and Dr Jaruwaree Snidwongse na Ayudhya, as well as Dolchai himself. The CD set sells for 700 baht, with proceeds going to the same cause. They will be available at the door, or at Chitralada School.