Love was all around on Monday night, as members of the audience came together to sing along with their favourite love songs of different eras at the second edition of the “Pink Park Eternal Love” concert at Royal Paragon Hall.

As the name suggests, the concert aimed to raise funds for Pink Park Village, Thailand’s first non-profit holistic centre for underprivileged, terminally ill women suffering from stage-4 breast cancer operated by the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer Foundation.

Tanachai “Pod” Ujjin, Saharat “Kong” Sangkapreecha, Songsit “Kob” Roongnophakunsri, Isara “Tom” Kitnitchee, Jirakorn “Ae” Sompitak, Anchalee “Pu” Chongkhadikij, Saksit “Tor” Vejsupaporn, and Saranyu “Ice” Winaipanit took turns on stage to perform their best-loved ballads as well as some up-tempo tracks that had the audience on its collective feet.

The predominantly female audience shouted out with sheer delight as their favourite artists brought 40 timeless love songs and medleys to life.

First out on stage was Moderndog’s Pod Tanachai who got the ball rolling with “Chuang Thi Dee Thi Sud”. He was followed by Kong Saharat with “Pen Yang Nee Tang Tae Kerd Loei”, Kob Songsit with “Patiharn” and Tom Isara with “Pen Thuk Yang” and a cover of songs-for-lifer Pongsit Khampi’s “Samer” with Ae Jirakorn before the latter let rip on “Jai Klang Kwam Roo Suek Dee Dee”.

Distinguished producer and keyboard player Jakrawal “Neung” Saothongyutitham, who was also the music director for this concert, made a special request to Tom and Ae to sing a cover of Rang Rockestra’s “Khid Thueng” (“Miss You”) in remembrance of his mother, who died recently.

Pu Anchalee thrilled with a series of her best-loved hits including “Nueng Diew Khon Nee” and “Mee Ther”, and talented pianist Tor Saksit took to his keyboard for “Rak Ther”, swapping the lyrics with some of Grand Ex’ “Rak Nai C Major” and “Yim Kor Phor”. Ice Saranyu closed the first part of the show with “Buppesannivas”, the soundtrack of Channel 3’s popular period drama of the same name and “Cham Khue Rao” featuring Tom Isara.

“If we have someone with us, our lives are more valuable,” mused Pu Anchalee.

Tom Isara returned after the intermission with a medley of hits featuring “Nuang”, “Restart” and “Chan Tong Khoo Kap Ther” though sadly, he failed to generate as much interest as Kob Songsit who performed a medley of “Kheed Sen Tai” and “Term Mai Tem” before singing “Rak Rao Mai Kao Loei”. The ever-handsome Kong Saharat drew screams as he appeared on stage to sing “Rak Ther Sud Huajai”, “Luek Sud Jai” and a cover of Rewat Buddhinan’s “Chao Sao Thi Klua Fon”.

Pod Tanachai returned with a slow song, “Rak Khun Khao Laew” before segueing into uptempo numbers “Korn” and a medley of “Busaba” and “Tim”. Ae Jirakorn entertained with “Klub Ma” and “Jak Nee Pai Jon Niran” matching his high pitch to Pu Anchalee’s powerful rock vocals then handing the stage over to her.

Anchalee took the audience back to 1984, the year she released her debut album “Nueng Diew Khon Nee”, with a medley of “Yoo Pai Wan Wan”, “Mai Phid” and “Khid Pai Aeng” and had the audience waving their hands in time to the tunes. Fans screamed again, when Tor Saksit and Ice Saranyu came back with their popular songs.

The concert wrapped with “Proh Arai”, a song penned especially for this concert by Neung Jakrawal.

“I am very proud to be a part of the concert,” said Neung Jakrawal, who along with his band provided the backing for the show.

“Every single artist came here tonight to keep the audience fully entertained. Our energy and enthusiasm had no limits. The whole show was impressive and memorable.”

Entry is Bt200 including one drink. Book a table at (098) 889 8590 or email info@sugarclubphuket.com.

“Above Ordinary” gig postponed

South Korean rapper Simon Dominic, who was due to appear in Thailand on May 26 will now be performing on August 24 due to the organisers requesting a change of venue.

Ticket sales have now been suspended and will resume on July 20. A full refund will be given to anyone who wants to cash in their tickets rather than delay.

For more information, go to ticket.achi.co.th.

Paradise on the beach

Chang Music Connection presents the 7th Khanom Festival with a new theme, “Seven Paradise”, on Khanom Beach in Nakhon Si Thammarat on July 27, aiming to stimulate the province’s economy and tourism.

Taking part in the music festival are Bodyslam, Slot Machine, Max Jenmana, Vee Violet, Oat Pramote, Non Thanon, LazyLozy, Oganic, Highhot, DJ LP x MC Prada, DJ ATip x DJ Birdkid x MC Macro, and DJ Yukie x MC Pam.

Tickets cost Bt1,500 at http://www.Ticketmelon.com. For more information, visit facebook: Go Khanom or contact the Khanom Tourism Association on (085) 909 0583.

Wet time in the hills

Another music festival making a return in July is “Singing in the Rain” and this year promises to be more enjoyable and wetter by moving to a new venue, Umbrella City on Thanarat Road KM 21, Khao Yai.

Taking place on July 27 on the theme “Let’s Say Play Together”, this upcoming festival will be decorated with a giant umbrella, feature an activity zone called “Umbrella Roulette” and see performances by Potato, The Toys, Singto Numchok, Better Weather, Polycat, Lipta, Mean, Mints, Lomosonic, Youngohm x Fiixd and DJs from Quay Records.

Tickets are now on sale at Bt1,300 at Thai Ticket Major outlets and online at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and http://www.singingintherainfest.com.

Rocking out with Lok

Vancouver-based producer and DJ Pat Lok is the special guest tomorrow night of Beam Club at 72 Courtyard at the Phetchaburi end of Thonglor.

His releases “You Street” and “Your Lips” and numerous remixes have received critical acclaim, racking up millions of plays and consistently topping Hype Machine.

For more information and reservations, call (02) 392 7750.

Musicals are traditionally based on books, movies, history, folk tales, even the animal kingdom but in a first for Thailand if not the world, coming to the Bangkok stage tomorrow night is one based on a life-coaching workshop.

The brainchild of Dr Cherie Carter-Scott, who is sometimes referred to as the “Mother of Coaching” and a best-selling author, “The Workshop, A Dress Rehearsal for Life!” is having its world premiere at the small hall of the Thailand Cultural Centre.

“Dr Cherie has now than 40 years of experience as a life coach and wrote this musical based on her life and the characters she encountered in her profession,” says stage director and lyricist Napisi Reyes, who also wrote the musical book.

“It is totally different from other musicals. I have seen many Broadway musicals about athletes, actors and even singers but none about a therapist. That alone makes it an interesting, challenging and rewarding experience.”

“Dr Cherie dreamt of producing a musical relating to her career and was able to do so almost on her own as she has a talent for writing songs and the script,” she continues.

Napisi was approached late last year by Stefan Paul Sanchez, an opera singer and producer who lives in Thailand. She is responsible for performance, direction and concept, while Sanchez serves as producer and artistic director and Darren Royston is the choreographer.

“It’s been a challenge as it’s a new story without any reference, so we had first to determine the direction we should take and how it could be staged. It was also important to find performers who could create and understand their characters by themselves, without any references. Not many Thais know what life coaching is and how it works. Dr Cherie took us to see her coaching method and that helped us understand. It’s really about psychology but is completely different from psychiatry where the patient is helped to make decisions. A life coach has a set of questions and the patient has to understand and unlock the problem by himself. It isn’t therapy but a guide. Anyone coming to see the musical will be able to observe how Randi, the life coach and workshop leader, guides the participants,” she says.

The mainly Thai performers must communicate in English language.

Dr Cherie wrote the play with her sister, Lynn, so that larger audiences could share this human experience. The characters in the play are everyday people who face the same challenges in contemporary society as many of us do – boundary management, being overweight and/or overworked, abuse, discrimination and communication breakdowns.

The workshop participants are made up of 11 individuals of diverse ethnicity, occupation and sexual preference. All have individual challenges and are seeking solutions. Their stories are funny, sad and moving and told through more than 17 songs written by Dr Cherie and set to a diverse range of genres – classical, gospel, Western country, even a German beer song. Every character has his/her own special song, which defines and differentiates them.

Remarkably, the English-language musical is performed by an mainly Thai cast. Pete Pol plays the transgender Venda, Janya Thanasawarngkul is Karen, Nutchapong Asavakarn is Lee, Pavichya Ruengjitsang is Ashley, Pitchaya Kemasingki is Ernie, Woramon Santikarn is Lindsey, Panurut Pongpitakkun is Nigel, Bussayapat Aunchittikul is Randi, Mahannop Panasaratool is Maurice, Sutpatorn Masamran is Reena, Anuttra Kitiyakara Na Ayudhya is Tamara, and Chorlada Suriyayothin is Rose.

“I’m not completely the same as this character as I haven’t yet changed gender. However, I can relate to being bullied as a child. It is my first time performing a musical and it is hard for me to speak English, although I practised hard. My character is rather complex and multilayered. My song ‘Am I this or am I that’ is asking myself what I am really – male or female,” he says.

“Karen is an 40-something overweight woman from Texas who suffers from an eating disorder. Her real problem stems from her father who has never allowed her to be herself. She can’t disobey him but the one thing he can’t control is her eating. Texans are known for eating large dishes and she thought by devouring lots of food, she could conquer her father. And when she’s stressed, eating is what makes her happy,” says Janya.

“I’m fat because of hyperthyroidism but I’m learning to balance my body.

“My song is ‘Metabolically Challenged’, which is about challenging the metabolic system with many temptations such as sweets and ice cream. As Stefan says, it’s strange that all 11 member of the cast actually have lots in common with the characters they are playing,” she adds.

“I’m Maurice, an American man of colour who works in Hollywood as a film director. His problem is racism, No matter how proficient he is, he doesn’t feel he is accepted. On one occasion, when he drives his Mercedes-Benz to the entrance, a guard asks him who he is picking up. The guard thinks that he is from Uber or Grab. It’s a hard role to play. The reprise of my song ‘Let It Be Me’ emphasises ‘look at me, listen to me,” Mahannop explains.

With such a diversity of characters and problems, what does Napsiri think the audience will take home from the musical?

“First of all, it’s entertaining – there’s drama, a good story, singing and dancing. Our aim is to have the audience members feel that they are part of the workshop and that they are involved rather than just onlookers. The characters develop as the musical unfolds and they solve the problems by themselves. We hope that the musical will bring hope, happiness and comprehension to those who watch it,” she says.

Life’s little  challenges

– “The Workshop, A Dress Rehearsal for Life!” is being staged at the small hall of the Thailand Cultural Centre tomorrow and Sunday and from May 29 to June 1.

– Showtime is 7.30pm.

– Tickets priced from Bt800 to Bt2,500 are available at Thai Ticket Major counters. Call (02) 262 3456 or visit http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.

The gala fund-raiser at Vertigo TOO restaurant and lounge on the hotel’s 60th floor, benefits the Bangkok Opera Foundation, a non-profit educational and cultural body, initiated by award-winning novelist and composer of operas Somtow Sucharitkul, to support the advancement of culture and music amongst young Thai artists.

The evening’s programme includes star of Zurich Opera and Spanish Teatro Reale, singer Damian Whiteley; and Stacey Tappan from the Metropolitan Opera, along with renowned Thai opera singer Barbara Zion. Those attending will also enjoy internationally renowned composer Trisdee na Patalung conducting the Jatava Quartet, along with a dance and costume performance.

Local media personality Andrew Biggs will man the gavel as guests bid on intriguing artworks and luxury holiday packages.

The event offers the opportunity to mix and mingle with the talented and dedicated patrons of the arts who have made Opera Siam a focal point of contemporary culture in Southeast Asia, and support the ongoing and worthy cultural and educational initiatives of the Bangkok Opera Foundation.

Tickets cost Bt5,000 per person and are available at HostessesBangkok@banyantree.com or online at Ticketmelon.com.

Opera Siam has now presented 60 opera productions, one of the successful of which was the five episodes of “Dasjati: Ten Lives of the Buddha” that had been performed in Bangkok, Houston, Prague and Bayreuth. After a twoyear hiatus two more episodes – the vignette dance version of “Chandakumar” and the epic opera “Mahosot, Architect of Dreams” – will be premiered in Bangkok.

Performers from different countries will join maestro Trisdee and more than musicians, choristers, dancers and opera singers to retell two iconic tales from the Buddhist scriptures. In “Chandakumar” – the seventh of the ten major jatakas – the Buddhatobe is a prince whose father is told that to attain his dream of heaven, he must sacrifice the most valuable things in the kingdom, including his sons. Prince Chandakumar averts the monstrous sacrifice by summoning the King of the Gods.

“Architect of Dreams”, the fifth of the tales, tels the story of Mahosot, a boy genius who overcomes 101 armies by his wits alone, builds magic castles out of thin air, and causes his king to fall for the daughter of his greatest enemy, bringing about an age of peace to the Kingdom of Kashi.

The performances will take place at Thailand Cultural Centre on June 7 at 8pm and June 8 at 4pm.

Tickets cost Bt300 and Bt1,000 for VIP seats.