Director Adjjitma Na Patalung tells us why she brought back Love and Money, a stage play based on the play by UK playwright Dennis Kelly.
Can you tell us about the restaging of Love and Money?
When we put it on for the first time, we really had no expectations, largely because the subject matter is quite heavy. It’s not a comedy which would obviously have garnered more attention. However, as it turned out, the play was unexpectedly well-received so we thought we’d recreate the piece, using the same cast, so that more people would get to see it.
What got you interested in translating and directing this play?
When I was living in England, I had a chance to attend a theater workshop which was using this play as a directing exercise. I very much took to it. It was thought-provoking and rather controversial. I thought it would sit well within the context of Thai society.
How does it apply to the Thai society?
The message in Love and Money is universal. We’re all becoming more and more materialistic and sometimes we tend to forget what it is that really matters to us.
Did you have to make a lot of adjustments?
The plot remains pretty much intact. Only minor details have been changed to better suit the Thai audience. For example, the original version has a scene where the male protagonist writes an email to a French woman whereas our adaptation sees him writing an email to a Korean woman. It’s all very fun and challenging at the same time.
What’s your favorite stage play?
I loved Makhampom’s Mae Nak the Museum. It was a small production directed by Damkerng. He has a knack for turning something distinctively Thai into something more accessible and fun for the viewers.
