I watched Boxing Boys last night at the Esplanade Theater. I think it's enjoyable, and I would recommend it to friends.
"The world's first non-verbal Thai kickboxing stage performance premiered in Thailand at Ratchadalai theatre earlier this year and was praised by critics. The show is conceptualized, directed and cochoreographed by Ekachai who is also known for his 2003 movie "Beautiful Boxer" and the 1997 musical "Chang & Eng". - Read more about the show at here.
What's there not to like about the performance when you have ....well... dozens of half-naked, fit, cute thai boys all with sexy body fighting, dancing for you on the stage.. why not right?
See photos below from this website
Seriously, there are two thoughts I gathered from watching this performance. I may have overly intepretted the performance though.
(Click here for the music before you continue reading this)
The first thought comes at the ending scene of the performance. Wall of Bells as the backdrop in golden light symbolises, to me, Buddhism, countless Muay Thai fights across time, different lives and people from the ancient to today.
When the guys, now in in various uniforms representing various occupations. All of them doing the slow motion Wai-Khruu dance in respect to the Muay Thai Teacher, with Dovorak's Symphony No. 9. in E Minor Largo playing in the background.
Although no more in the fighting rings, and the Teacher is now old. the age of Thailand ancient culture, the "aging of Muay Thai".... all Thais are carrying that Muay Thai Spirit of resilience (how the founder overcame his enemies even till the end), in their daily lives.
At the end, all of them kneelled and pay respect to the Old Teacher.
Beautiful!
In view of the worse flood that is happening now in Thailand, the Thai people do need that spirit right now.
The second thought comes while i was thinking on the Muay Thai Spirits that lives on today, I wonder did the director purposely planned for this in the performance.
That is, when the play is said to be about Muay Thai, and the Spirit of resilience of it. I feel there is an another message, an unspoken image about Thailand portrait here...it's thriving sex tourism image. Maybe the director is also portraying how sex sell in Thailand through this play? It's so second nature now, its not even asked is that it.
Just a thought.
Moses Hng
