Dr. Iain Corness
The people in Pattaya opened their hearts to the Fr. Ray Foundation
and opened their wallets to the tune of 1.4 million baht by attending one of
the greatest spectaculars that Pattaya has ever witnessed. This was the
Beijing Acrobatics Fantasy, held in Pattaya’s own Tiffany Theater, with the
proceeds going to the Foundation.
Mike
Lancaster, the development director of the Fr. Ray Foundation, thanks
everyone who had assisted: the volunteers, the sponsors and the audience who
had purchased the tickets.
Playing to a full house, the Beijing Acrobatic troupe had the audience
literally spell-bound, with spontaneous applause in response to every act.
It was not the ‘polite response’ given by theatre-goers, this was a
thunderous acclamation of an incredible fantasy.
The show began with tumbling acts, but then picked up in intensity and
variety, with a massed diabolo group doing diabolical things with the
diabolo (derived from the 12th century Chinese yo-yo) that the world could
never have imagined 800 years ago.
With absolutely no time between acts, the action moved into the slack-wire,
a much more difficult proposition than the usual taught hi-wire. Not only
did the performer run up and down the slack-wire, but then finished by
riding a unicycle along it. Simply amazing.
Mike
Lancaster thanks Alisa Phanthusak for her support.
After this item came the men, all with three hats, doing the hat-swap
number. This was the only act I have witnessed before, done by the Tiffany’s
ensemble, but this one ended up with performers seated on each other’s
shoulders and continuing the hat swapping.
A balancing act done by the Beijing ladies was spectacular, combined with
contortions that defied imagination (and the human body, I might add).
The martial arts exponents were not to be disappointed. The Beijing troupe
gave a demonstration that was worthy of anything Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan
could ever deliver, but this time there was no trick cinematography, or
suspension wires. If I ever need a bodyguard, I want one of those guys!
A brilliantly clever skit was done with no language, just a whistle.
(Un)willing volunteers were brought from the audience and by a combination
of coaxing, demonstration and whistling, they managed to make four
non-gymnasts produce a tower, which did not collapse, even after the
supporting chairs were removed. US Warden Bobby Brooks almost collapsed, but
made it through to the end. He will probably be recommended for another
medal.
We have all seen multiples of up to five on motorcycles, but the Beijing
performers managed to get 10 girls and one muscular male pedaller all on the
one bicycle. Another amazing feat of coordination and balance.
The final act involved extremely well disciplined gymnasts going through
hoops, while an artistic duo of two males showed off their muscle control,
pectorals and balance with synchronized handstands.
This was probably one of the best shows I have ever seen in my life, and had
only been made possible through the generosity of so many people. The
Beijing Acrobatic Fantasy team of 40 performers provided the show for no
fee. Sutham Phanthusak gave the Tiffany Show theatre free of charge.
Sponsors included National Container Line Thailand, The Royal Cliff Beach
Resort, GS Battery-Daikin, Kitchen Festival, Toyota Thonburi, Vichai Art
Design, Bangkok Bank, The Tourism Authority of Thailand, Horseshoe Point,
Pattaya Mail Media Group, 87 Print Company, Pattaya Times, Pattaya
People and the F&B Management Association of the Eastern Region. Undoubtedly
there were others who wished to remain anonymous, but Mike Lancaster, the
development director of the Fr. Ray Foundation thanked everyone who had
assisted, the volunteers, the sponsors and the audience who had purchased
the tickets.
In many ways this was a novel encounter, but ended up being one of the
finest charity events promoted in Pattaya, and for such deserving
recipients, the 850 orphaned, poor, abused and neglected children, and the
blind and disabled adults also looked after by the Fr. Ray Foundation.
Thank you for bringing the world class act to our world class theatre.
The Beijing performers managed
to get 10 girls
and one muscular male pedaller all on the one bicycle.
This artistic duo show off
their muscle control,
pectorals and balance with synchronized handstands.
A bicycle built for two is
easy…
The balancing act done by the
Beijing ladies is spectacular.
A pretty Miss performs with a
diabolo.
The costumes are spectacular.
Beautiful costumes add to the
twirling umbrella act.
The slack wire is much more
difficult to master than a taught wire.
The final act involves
extremely well disciplined gymnasts going through hoops.
The magic mushroom balancing
act.
Performers ask for
“volunteers” to participate in the next act.
Four non-gymnasts produce a
tower, which did not collapse,
even after the supporting chairs were removed.
A bit of a jump catapults this
performer to new heights.
Men, all with three hats,
perform the hat-swap number.
|
SPONSORS of FATHER RAY
FOUNDATION
BENEFIT CONCERT
BEIJING ACROBATIC FANTASY – TIFFANY
THEATER – SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2009.
Main Sponsors:
National Container Line (Thailand) NCL
In alphabetical order:
Bangkok Bank
Boonthavorn
Chefs’ Association of Pattaya City & East Coast
F & B Management Association – Eastern Region of Thailand
Horseshoe Point
Pattaya Mail Publishing
Pattaya People
Pattaya Times
Royal Cliff Beach Resort
Siam Kolakarn
Singha Corporation
Tiffany’s Show Pattaya
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Toyota Thonburi
Vichai Art Design
87 Print Co. Ltd. |
Local
TAT director Niti Kongkrut (left) and politician Poramet Ngampiches (right)
begin the fun by pounding the mortar into a golden pestle.
