The much-loved “badmouthing trio” of Aof Pongsak, Pop Pongkool and Wan Thanakrit was back on stage last weekend for the fifth episode of the popular “Sam Yaek Pak Wan” (Junction of Badmouths) show and while the lads hinted that this could be the last, they were in such fine form that the audience could well launch a petition demanding they return.

This time around, they were joined by another singer who is well known for his occasional foul language, Pramote “Oat” Pathan.

That was no doubt one of the reasons why the “Sam Yaek Pak Wan, 3 Plus 1” quartet found it so easy to lift the badmouthing to the next level.

The four spent most of the long, long show making fun of other people. This year’s “victims” included Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, whose lifesize cardboard cutout was brought onstage for a “group photo” with the quartet. Apparently on loan from the organisers of this Children’s Day event at Government House, it served as an ideal prop for Pop to voice questions that most of us dare not – and do it not just once but twice. “Will there be an election?” he asked the cut out. “Is it time for us to have an election?” Perhaps he doesn’t fully believe the junta leader’s promise that the next election will be held “no later than” February next year.

Other verbal attacks were directed at each other, as well as at fellow singers, colleagues and bosses at GMM – in fact anyone, especially audience members who happened to show up late. They also cracked jokes about some hot social issues and high-profile events, among them were the Bt30-million lottery ownership row, the wristwatch scandal involving a key government figure, the “angry axe-wielding auntie” drama, and the slaughter of a black leopard linked to a business tycoon. The jokes were made in the form of cleverly altered lyrics of the song “Wan Nueng Chan Doen Khao Pa” (“Into the Woods”).

Due to the high demand for tickets, three rounds of the show were held this time round, up from two last year, and each of them packed Royal Paragon Hall to the gills.

Audience members who needed to leave the hall to answer the call of nature or stretch their legs tended to do so during the songs, presumably worried that they would miss out on the entertaining repartee.

And despite featuring some 20 songs, the concert really did focus more on comedy than music with a constant stream of funny sketches and jokes that were occasionally dirty and cruel. Fans of the television programme of the same name on GMM 25 channel, which is co-hosted by Aof, Pop and Wan, might well be familiar with many of the jokes and gags performed during the latest “Sam Yaek Pak Wan” episode. But being on stage rather than in a studio gave the foursome many more opportunities to use expletives.

Applause was also loud and long for the songs. In their solo segment, which was billed as the “best part of the concert”, the four singers wowed the crowd with their powerful crooning. Backed by the Extra Band, they also covered many popular songs, including “Koisuru Fortune Cookie” by all-girl band BNK48 and “Sang Sud Tai” (“Last Ray”) by rockers Bodyslam, adding to the enjoyment by dressing and performing like the original artists.

During the last round on Sunday night, which ran for more than three-and-a-half hours, Ben Chalathit and Two Popetorn were the quartet’s guests. Ben, an out-of-the-closet gay, appeared in a period costume and hairdo similar to those of the lead heroine from the popular TV soap opera “Love Destiny” and performed “Buppe Sanniwat”, the soundtrack of the period drama. The handsome Two was greeted with shrieks from his mostly female fans while singing his hit “Tae Yang Kid Thueng” (“But I Still Miss You”).

The concert was well balanced between singing and talking and was the perfect opportunity for people looking for entertainment to help “reset their mood” and soothe the stresses of everyday life.