|
Joe Louis Puppets delight audiences
in Red Cross Fundraiser
Expected to raise one million baht for HM the King’s Royal Projects
Members of the Banglamung
Red Cross, sing a heart-stirring song in honour of HM the King.
Ariyawat Nuamsawat
This is a very special year for the people of Thailand as we all
celebrate His Majesty the King’s 60th anniversary of his accession to
the throne.
Celebrations commenced early this year and are to continue throughout
the year. People from all walks of life in every corner of Thailand are
playing their part to proclaim their love and devotion for our beloved
King. Here in Banglamung District it is no different.
 Hanuman
humbly receives a gift from Suphakit Thamsatitman.
Last Sunday The Thai Red Cross Society, Banglamung Chapter organized a
fund raising event at the Alcazar cabaret hopeful of putting together
one million baht to be presented to His Majesty the King for His Royal
Projects to help alleviate the many hardships of His subjects and to
help them achieve the standard of living that He has strived for them to
have ever since He was crowned King 60 years ago.
At the start of the function, Banglamung District Chief, Suphakit
Thamsatitman, Chairman of the Banglamung Chapter of the Red Cross
delivered a speech in praise of His majesty before leading his members
in a heart-stirring rendition of a Royal ballad to honour the King.
After an interlude of entertainment by the Alcazar Cabaret Dancers, the
Joe Louis Puppet Theatre came on stage where they commenced to steal the
hearts and senses of the attendance.
 Sida
exudes her charms on Chanyuth and Vilawan Hengtrakul.
The Joe Louis Puppet Theatre has quite a unique history in itself. Hun
Lakorn Lek or Little Theatre Puppets is known to have existed as long
ago as the Ayudhya period.
The art of puppet show performances almost disappeared from the lives of
the Thai people during World War Two, but Sakorn Yangkiawsud, better
known as Khru (teacher) Joe Louis had a great love for the art and
re-introduced traditional Thai puppet performances to a whole new
generation.
His determination and his success led to the Tourism Authority of
Thailand requesting Khru Joe Louis to perform at the Visit Thailand Year
Festival 1985. He was subsequently elected to the Thai Performing Arts
Hall of Fame in 1996.
The puppets move as if they are living beings, and each puppet requires
three people to animate it. Only the Sakorn Natsilp troupe is able to
perform the once almost lost art, with Sakorn himself the pillar of the
troupe.
Sakorn Yangkeawsot was nicknamed “Liew” when he was a child. When he got
older he started a Likay theater company. He performed as the comedian.
Soon after, as part of his comedy act they started to use the name
“Louis” after his nickname Liew. His love of comedy and his renowned
performances led to people jokingly calling him Joe Louis, and the name
became famous in performing arts circles.
A theatre has been named after him, when Her Royal Highness Princess
Galayani Vatthana opened the Natsala Puppet Theatre (Joe Louis). This
past June the troupe competed in the 2006 World Festival of Puppet Art
in Prague, Czech Republic and came top in the Best Traditional
Performance.
The audience were entertained with two episodes from the Ramakien
(Ramayana) epic with the main characters being, Rama, Sida (Sita),
Thosakan (Ravan) and Hanuman.
The performance was so life like that when the characters mingled among
the audience, they were treated with the same reverence as you would a
human being. Sida was the gentle and sweet one whilst Hanuman was the
most fun. His antics with the audience left everyone in uncontrollable
fits of laughter.
All in all a joyful and unique experience, which can be enjoyed over and
over again, proving that Thailand is rich in culture and traditions of
which we can truly be proud.
Standing room only at the PSC Summer Party
Mike Franklin
Pattaya Sports Club held its annual Summer Party at the Town in Town
hotel on Wednesday 5th July, ten days after the PSC Annual General
Meeting held at the same venue. It was a full house with 450 members and
guests in attendance. This is the annual party that is free to members.
 Re-elected
President
Gerry Carpenter addresses the full house of
450 members gathered at the Town in Town Hotel for the PSC Summer Party.
The Summer Party features attractions other than the free and fast
flowing bar.
The lucky draw offers a wide range of valuable prizes, including gold
items totaling four Baht weight in value, TVs, microwave ovens, digital
cameras, cell-phones and quality golf equipment from Callaway and Mizuno
The Town in Town hotel has become the regular venue for the PSC Summer
and Christmas parties, and deservedly so due to the high quality of the
extensive dinner buffet that includes a very popular seafood barbeque.
The service is excellent provided by the attentive and friendly staff at
table. Party Chairman, Doug Powell did an excellent job again putting a
grand evening together. The band was well chosen and a band to listen to
and enjoy, encouraging dancers on the floor early in the evening without
any encouragement from the emcee.
 Mike
Franklin (left) catches a word with newly elected Club Treasurer Ron
Herbert.
Re-elected President, Gerry Carpenter in his third term of office, gave
the traditional welcoming speech outlining the extensive and carefully
planned charity work that PSC had undertaken throughout the year, under
the enthusiastic leadership of Charity Chairman, Bernie Tuppin. The
other members of PSC Executive Committee were introduced including two
newly elected members, Ron Herbert as Treasurer and Mike Gerrard as Golf
Chairman.
 The
new PSC Golf Chairman Mike Gerrard talks about his aims and
responsibilities for the coming year.
The highlight of the evening for many is undoubtedly the lucky draw
offering a wide selection of valuable prizes, plus the opportunity to
meet other members not seen for a while.
The pictures say it all. The evening was a good mix of wining & dining,
excellent music and entertainment, and the draw with gold to be won. We
look forward to December and the annual PSC Christmas Party. See you
there...
Skål gets fit?
Peter Cummins, Marlowe Malhotra look
handsome next to Kannikar Ottesen and Sue Kukarja.
Chookiat in conversation with Roger Soland.
Old friends meet, Hans Banziger and Dr. Iain
Corness.
Paul Strachan, PMTV with Bruce Hoppe, VP
Asia Operations of Emerson Electric.
Ib Ottesen scrutinizes the pages of the
Pattaya Mail as Brendan Richards and Peter Malhotra look on.
The Docto family, Margot, Zina and Daniel,
new members of the Pattaya community.
Anyone for rock climbing?
Daniel Docto speaks of the attractions of
the Fairtex Complex.
What fun is a party without the lovely
ladies? (l-r) Som Corness, Zina and Margot Docto and Kannikar Ottesen.
Skålleagues all in a row, (l-r) President
Andrew Khoo, Chookiat Srivatjanapong, Ingo Raeuber, Paul Sinclair, Bobby
Brooks and Hans Banziger.
PM reporter
Perhaps looking ahead to the busy times coming in October when the
Skål International delegates and their partners (all 1,500 of them)
descend on Pattaya, the local Skål International of Pattaya and the East
spent an evening at the Fairtex complex looking at the fitness
opportunities there.
The Pattaya group, led by President Andrew Khoo (GM Hard Rock Hotel) was
welcomed by Daniel Docto, the Marketing Manager of the Fairtex Muay Thai
division, and the Skål group was then joined by the Fairtex Executive
General Manager, Bart Van Der Molen, who must surely be Pattaya’s answer
to Jean-Claude Van Damme. “Big Bart” who obviously works out, has to eat
seven meals a day to maintain his physique!
A tour of the facilities was in order, where many of Pattaya’s business
people could be seen having their own workouts on the tennis and
badminton courts, as well as in the gymnasium. Mention was made of the
soon to be completed Fairtex hotel complex, making the Pattaya North
Road site a literal fitness resort and spa.
However, the local Skål International members were relieved to find that
the Fairtex folk also served wines, spirits and beers and a full buffet
for those who had raised a hunger just in walking around the complex.
Bart had one of his seven meals and then had to go and work out. We just
sat and lingered instead, and had a few more cleansing ales and wines,
before the group drifted off home!
|
