First, let’s set the record straight. Workpoint Entertainment subsidiary Toh Gloam’s “Nithan Hinghoi: The Musical” at KBank Siam Pic-Ganesha Centre of Performing Arts is indeed a revival – and a fine one at that –of “The Legend of Re Khai Fan: Chaliang|the Musical” it co-produced with |True Fantasia seven years ago at the M Theatre.
Chaliang fans will be especially delighted to see and hear how favourite songs from two decades ago have been reinterpreted and rearranged to fit the tale that centres on the two sharply different communities – that of Muang Takka (The City of Logics) and Muang Ekkanek (The Town of Ease). The main simple message that all can draw from this three-hour-plus musical is that we need to know how to balance the logic and the ease, or, to put it in another way, the head and the heart. It’s an important thought in this day and age and one that bears repeating. My only criticism is that the six-member script-writing team, most used to writing for television, may want to cut the irrelevant jokes to keep the play moving at a finer pace and to make sure the audience reaches home by midnight.
The highlight of this revival is the |acting and singing of two musical theatre performers who’ve never been known for comedic prowess and yet excel |beyond expectation here – Kanda Witthayanuparpyuenyong as Pui Pui and Kornkan Sutthikoses as her love interest Chana Lom. The former’s performance here, thanks in part to the surprise value, even tops that of hers in “The Wife” |earlier this year. As a mysterious blind man, veteran actor Satta Sattathip delivers another memorable performance |as he, like Kanda and Kornkan, looks and sounds very different from other roles we’ve seen him in. The other two leads suffer slightly from stereotypical casting which has put them into the roles that limit their acting capability – Anusorn “Yong Armchair” Maneetes as 1001, another no-nonsense military role, and Sathida Prompiriya as Phra Chan, |another sensitive, if not fragile young woman. Their romantic duet “Thoe mun rop chan; Chan mun rop thoe” (“We’re orbiting around each other”), though, is another musical highlight that would bring smiles and possibly tears of joy to the audience.
While the set design, with sharp contrasts between the two communities at the core, might still remind theatre fans of “Chicago”, “Wicked”, “The Flintstones” and other sci-fi movies, it’s the lighting design by Supatra Kruekromgsuk that adds aplenty.
Originally scheduled to perform from October to November, the run was cut short due to the death of King Rama |IX. The good news is that this feel-good jukebox musical will be back for a shorter run, and hopefully the creative team will have trimmed the running time |by then.
BACK SOON ONSTAGE

•  “Nithan Hinghoi: The Musical”
• continues from January 28 to February 12, Saturday and Sunday only, 2pm and 7:30pm at KBank Siam Pic-Ganesha Centre of Performing Arts.
• It’s in Thai with no English translation.
• Tickets cost from Bt1,000 to Bt 2,800 (students Bt600 to Bt1,400) at ThaiTicketMajor.