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New drama group treads the boards
Mark Beales
The curtain has risen on a new theatre group in Pattaya. The Pattaya
Players made its debut in a successful three-night run at the Bangkok
Hospital Pattaya’s Function Hall from May 16-18.
 Hair
& makeup artist Patricia Foulstone transforms Neil Wrightson into
Sergeant Major Morris for The Monkeys Paw.
‘An Evening of One Act Plays’ saw a full house on its opening night,
replete with stage, a set, lighting and sound.
The appreciative audience was treated to three plays. The first was ‘The
Monkey’s Paw’ by W. W. Jacobs, a tale of a family that finds a lucky paw
that will grant them three wishes, but it turns out that each wish will
not just bring them fortune, it will also bring tragedy.
The second play was ‘The Last Leaf’ by Thomas Hischak, a bittersweet
story about Johnsy, a girl who has lost the will to live, and a friend
who provides the ultimate gift to save her life.
 A
scene from ‘The Last Leaf’ as Sue played by Mari Parino tells the Doctor
(Debbie Cavanaugh) about her friends deteriorating condition.
After a short interval and prize raffle draw, it was time for the last
play: ‘Final Dress Rehearsal’ by Jack Frakes. This farce looks at an
amateur dramatic group desperately preparing for Cinderella.
All three plays went down well with the 100-strong audience.
All in all this exemplified what community theatre is about, a group or
troupe if you like, of like minded individuals who worked as a team not
only to provide the audience with three very diverse plays but also the
way they worked together as they changed the set from one play to the
next in an almost choreographed fashion.
 Clare
Bryant plays the role of mother in ‘The Monkeys Paw’ with the multi
talented Adam Kuhl as Herbert.
Among those watching on opening night was Anna Khendry from the Bangkok
Community Theatre, who had come to lend her support. She praised the
group for its opening night and said it was good to see another theatre
group treading the boards.
Bill Leute and his wife Pat Beharry, from Pennsylvania, America, were
visiting Thailand for the first time and heard about the show. They were
also impressed by the staging and performances.
The Pattaya Players was formed earlier this year on the success and
enthusiasm of some of the actors that staged a ‘Murder Mystery’ at a
local restaurant in 2007; however, it needed someone to steer the ship
and in stepped Debbie Cavanaugh as president. She managed to rope in
other board members, including the director of all of the three plays
and founding board member Chris Parsons, an accomplished actor, producer
and director.
Parsons said, “Community theatre is a wonderful gift to bring to
Pattaya, it instills camaraderie, risk-taking, artistic expression and
community building - all amidst the backdrop of pure theatrical
entertainment!”
News of a theatre group in Pattaya has been welcomed as a major boost to
the city’s arts scene, and there are already plans for future events
from the Pattaya Players. On September 6 there will be a Murder Mystery
Dinner, on October 31 there will be a look at Thai ghost stories during
a Haunted Ghost Walk, and on December 6 the group’s Christmas production
will be staged. Details and locations for these events will be revealed
later.
For more on the group visit
www.pattatyaplayers.org
Rosanne Diamente and Meryl
Williams in a scene from ‘Final Dress Rehearsal’ playing the Elder &
Younger sisters - but which one is which!
After the performance two
very happy actors from ‘Final Dress Rehearsal’
Jacinta Farragher (Stepmother) and Olive Wade (Stage Manager).
The ever-smiling Rachel
Hoag (The Authoress from ‘Final Dress Rehearsal)
shares a moment with her son & friends.
A very grey haired Paul
Strachan (Mr White from ‘The Monkey’s Paw’) tells make up artist Nancy
Jacobs to make Debbie Cavanaugh look older than him!
Adam Kuhl again but this
time as a man well in touch with his feminine side
as he directs a be-wigged Foo Smith as the Utility girl in ‘Final Dress
Rehearsal’.
John Fishback shines as
Old Behrman in this scene from ‘The Last Leaf’.
Paul Strachan tells
Sandra, Sue and Pat that he put on 14 kilos especially
for the role of Mr White - that’s dedication!
The over enthusiastic
Prompter from ‘Final Dress Rehearsal’ Karen Brent explains that every
time she snaps her fingers - a cameraman turns up!
Some fans ask the Fairy
Godmother (Mari Parino) for her number.
The Sunday performance
attracted the young & not so young.
The Entire cast of ‘An
Evening of One Acts’
with Stage Manger Bob Pross and Director Christopher Parsons.
Children from Baan Jing
Jai came along to support the Pattaya Players.
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Highlights from ‘An Evening of One Acts’ can
be seen
on Pattaya Mail
Television (PMTV)
on Saturday the 24th of May. |
Southern youngsters awarded
for attending leadership camp
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
Mayor elect Itthipol Khunplome presented certificates on May 8 to
participants in the 2nd Youth Leader Friendship Camp Project, in which 45
youngsters from high schools in the three Southern provinces of Yala,
Pattani and Narathiwat gathered at properties operated by the Pinnacle
Hotels Resort and Spas group.
 Dr
Vongbhum Vanasin, president of the Youth Development Foundation, is proud of
how successful the camp is.
Dr Vongbhum Vanasin, president of the Youth Development Foundation, which
had initiated the project, said that the camp was organized in cooperation
with the Southern Border Province Administration Center (SBPAC), and was
designed to cement friendships between youngsters from the Southern
provinces and other regions, and to help create leadership skills for them.
The emphasis, he said, was on showing that the young people of the three
troubled provinces were not isolated, but that people from all over Thailand
are always with them.
The 2nd Youth Leader Friendship Camp, which was held during the period May 3
to 10, differed from the first camp held last year in that whereas the first
project placed emphasis on hotel skills, the second was more concerned with
the leadership aspect.
 Rungratree
Thongsai talks about “Creating common sense for relationships in families
and in society.”
This was in evidence from the lecturers present, who had been invited from a
number of universities and who focused on personal development, problem
solving, setting up in business, and the relevance of religion to everyday
life.
Dr Vongbhum said that the camp has been rated a success, because although
there were less attendees than the first camp, the youngsters had responded
extremely well to the environment and to the style of instruction.
Work is now underway on organizing the third camp, which is projected to be
a larger event as it is being arranged in conjunction with the Statesman
Foundation of Excellency, led by Gen Prem Tinsulanonda.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome
distributes a certificate
to one of the 45 children who attended the project.
Youngsters enjoy learning
English education
from their favorite teacher Cristina Tan.
Youngsters learn leadership
skills at the 2nd
Youth Leader Friendship Camp Project.
Many tearful goodbyes were
seen when it was time to return home.
Talent shows, games and
singing are parts of the many activities during the camp.
Hundreds pay last respects to Ron Amero
Lewis Woody Underwood
Some said there were 300 funeral goers; others said 500 or more showed up at
Ron’s final rites last Friday afternoon, May 9th at Wat Chai in South
Pattaya. Regardless of the actual figure it was a tremendous outpouring from
the local and expat community, as well as folks from all over Thailand and
other parts of the world. In attendance were not only family and a host of
old friends, but also fellow oil field workers, and a cross section of
members from various motorcycle clubs. Even our newly elected Pattaya mayor,
Itthipol Khunplome stopped by to pay his respects.
 R.I.P.
Ron
Seasoned funeral goers reckon it was the biggest funeral they’d ever seen.
But then that surprised no one. Ron left his mark on everyone. And, of
course, he was legendary.
Ron would have been proud and we sure hope that his family members from
Canada and Thailand were too. After all the time they spent by his side
during his battle with that sinister disease, we certainly wish they have
had at least some degree of closure.
Kudos go to so many people for Ron’s terrific send off, starting with Bjarne
and Kran Nielsen of Cafe Kronborg, who organized the large sala for the
event and the logistics for the 4 days and 3 nights that Ron’s body was at
the temple. We also appreciate all those individuals, families and groups
who sponsored the daily supply of drink and food for the monks and funeral
goers.
 Newly
elected Mayor Itthipol Khunplome (right) stopped by to pay his respects.
A special treat was not only the presence of Carabao band members throughout
the stint at the wat, but also headman, Ad, showing up on the final day to
deliver a heartfelt eulogy for our fallen friend.
Ron is now gone, his family and friends returned to their respective homes,
and all that remains, along with his memory, are his ashes. Some of them are
to be kept at Ad Carabao’s estate in Sattahip, where he will build a shrine
to his memory.
Moreover, to help keep Ron’s memory alive, on his first death anniversary
next year, May 2, 2009, a commemorative biker poker run will be held with
all the proceeds going into a trust fund for his sole son, Mic. This event
will be perpetuated every year forth.
May Ron’s memory linger in our hearts forever.
Lek and Ad Carabao say their
final goodbyes.
Hundreds of people showed up
to pay their last respects to Ron Amero.
“Seasoned funeral goers reckon
it was the biggest funeral they’d ever seen.
But then that surprised no one. Ron left his mark on everyone. And,
of course, he was legendary.”
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