| Hanuman — the monkey god, is one of the legendary characters depicted in Ramakien, the famous Thai masked dance performance based on Ramayana, the great Indian epic.
Renowned for his courage, power, loyalty and selfless service, Hanuman is a noble hero and a great devotee of Phra Ram (Rama). These qualities are vividly portrayed in Hanuman the Mighty, the new Thai masked dance production currently playing at Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre. The classic tale is retold in eight acts.
| PROGRAMME |
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VTR: Introduction to the Khon performance on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol’s Accession to the Throne
(7 mins.) |
| Act 1 |
Birth of Hanuman, the Mighty |
| Act 2 |
The Cursed and Weak Monkey |
| Act 3 |
Chief Warrior to Navigate |
| Act 4 |
Rescue Sida — Eliminate Sahaskuman |
| Act 5 |
Causeway building — Catching the Mermaid Queen |
| Act 6 |
Deception to get the Heart of Tosakanth |
| Act 7 |
Hanuman Defeats Tosakanth |
| Act 8 |
Chief Warrior to Rule a City |
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Synopsis
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Birth of Hanuman the Mighty
Sawaha is cursed and is destined to spend her days standing on one foot, with one hand clinging to a branch, until such time that she bears a son who is a monkey.
Phra Isuan (the Thai name for Shiva — the Hindu god of destruction and rebirth) takes pity on her and attempts to undo the curse. Phra Isuan wishes that Sawaha give birth to a son who can help Phra Ram (Rama). He orders Phra Pai, the wind god, to shoot his divine power and weapons into Sawaha’s mouth.
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On Tuesday in the third month of the Year of Tiger, Sawaha gives birth to Hanuman – a white monkey with four faces and eight arms. With hair like dazzling diamonds and fangs of crystal, Hanuman magically yields stars, the moon and the sun from his mouth when he yawns.
Sawaha tells her son that one day he will come across one who values the ‘gems’ with which Hanuman has been bestowed. Sawaha orders her son to join the army of Phra Ram — an incarnation of Phra Narai (Vishnu). |
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The Cursed and Weak Monkey
While flying in the sky, Hanuman spots a garden owned by Phra Uma (Phra Isuan’s consort). There, he treats himself to a feast of fruits. Having had his fill, he recklessly plays with the rest of the fruits. |
His misbehavior enrages Phra Uma, who curses him, reducing his power by half. She says the curse will be lifted only after he meets Phra Ram and he touches Hanuman’s back thrice.
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Chief Warrior to Navigate
Once the chief warrior Hanuman volunteers to survey routes to Longka City, Phra Ram asks Hanuman to take a ring and breast cloth to Sida (Sita), Phra Ram’s consort. |
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When Hanuman meets Sida, he finds that she is about to hang herself, so he rescues her.
Rescue Sida — Eliminate Sahaskuman
He asks her to sit on his palm so that he can carry her back to Phra Ram. However, Sida refuses for fear that such an act would be deemed conduct unbecoming.
Sida asks Hanuman to tell Phra Ram to rescue her. Hanuman gives her his promise.
Before leaving Longka City, he kills Sahaskuman, Tosakanth’s 1,000 offsprings. |
Causeway building — Catching the Mermaid Queen
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Deception: Plotting to get Tosakanth’s Heart
Hanuman volunteers to bring a box containing Tosakanth’s heart, which is kept by Kobut Richi, to Phra Ram, and asks the Richi to take him to Tosakanth, the demon king (Ravana in Ramayana).
By Hanuman’s spell, the Richi gives Hanuman the demon’s heart. Hanuman pretends to submit himself to Thosakanth, so the demon king adopts him as his son. |
Hanuman Defeats Tosakanth
During the battle, Phra Ram shoots Prommas arrow to kill Tosakanth, and Hanuman destroys Tosakanth’s heart and ends his life.
Chief Warrior to Rule a City
Phra Ram wins the battle and appoints Hanuman “Phaya Anuchit Chakkrit Pipatpongsa” then sends him off to rule Nop Buri city.
THE ORIGINS OF KHON AND RAMAKIEN
Khon, the Thai masked dance, is a classical art which combines three ‘schools’ of traditional performing arts — Chak Nak Duek Damban, Krabi Krabong (a form of martial arts) and Nang Yai shadow play. Khon is partly derived from Lakhon Nai (stage drama performed in the royal courts).
In the past, all Khon performers wore masks and thus needed narrators to project voices for their characters. Today, the narrators still retain their roles in Khon despite an adaptation that human and angel characters no longer wear masks. Only monkey or demon characters still wear masks on stage.
The most popular script is the Ramakien, which is based on India ’s Ramayana epic. Written by Valmiki, the epic narrates an episode of Phra Narai (Narayana or Vishnu) who is reborn to a human so as to save both humans and angels from the terror of Tosakanth (Ravana) — the demon king — in Longka (Lanka) City.
The most complete version of Ramakien was written by H.M. King Rama I (1782 - 1809). But the Ramakien which is most widely used in actual productions on account of its melodies verses was composed by King Rama II (1809 – 1824).
Khon was regarded as a royal court performance, continuing from the Ayutthaya Period into the Rattanakosin Period. During the reign of H.M. King Rama VI, Khon reached its golden age. His Majesty supported both Khon trainees and artists, and also had Khon performances staged throughout his reign.
In 1935, however, the royal Khon troupe was transferred to the Fine Arts Department and since then all official Khon artists have been part of this department.
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ARTS OF ILLUSION
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Location:
Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre
66 Charoen Krung Road, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2224 4499
Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8.30 p.m
Tickets: B1,200 and B1,000
Web site: www.salachalermkrung.com
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Performance commences at 20.30 hrs
Doors open approximately 30 minutes before the show starts.
TICKETING
Online
Web site: www.thaiticketmaster.com
TTM Call Center: +66 (0) 2262 3456
* Tickets can be collected at TTM Outlets only.
THAITICKETMASTER.COM CONTACT
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