LIKAY

	"LIKAY" (ลิเก) is a Thai popular form of theatre. Actors on the stage are singing while speaking. It is not at all opera even if their sentences are said with a singing voice. The whole is accompanied with a classical orchestra. The actors are dressed with flashing clothes and with brilliant stuff. Men used cosmetics and their lips, cheeks are really reddish. Often "LIKAY" can be seen in up-countries towns.
Likay

"LIKAY" (ลิเก) is a Thai popular form of theatre. Actors on the stage are singing while speaking. It is not at all opera even if their sentences are said with a singing voice. The whole is accompanied with a classical orchestra. The actors are dressed with flashing clothes and with brilliant stuff. Men used cosmetics and their lips, cheeks are really reddish. Often "LIKAY" can be seen in up-countries towns.

Likay

Usually, practitioners of traditional Thai arts, like puppetry, masked dance or muay Thai, must perform the wai kru rite _ paying respects to the teachers _ before going on stage. The same philosophy seemed to have trickled into the relatively recent art of movie-making.

When there are big feasts, sometimes a "LIKAY" troop is invited, or depending of the person who organised the feast, a Chinese opera troop (งิ้ว) or "MOLAM" (หมอลำ) orchestra. A "LIKAY" troop is famous if the "PHRA EK" (พระเอก - main actor) is handsome. Performances are always funny and include love stories. Spectators often clap hands after an actor good performance and offer garlands.
	Likay

When there are big feasts, sometimes a "LIKAY" troop is invited, or depending of the person who organised the feast, a Chinese opera troop (งิ้ว) or "MOLAM" (หมอลำ) orchestra. A "LIKAY" troop is famous if the "PHRA EK" (พระเอก - main actor) is handsome. Performances are always funny and include love stories. Spectators often clap hands after an actor good performance and offer garlands.

Likay

Mookmontri Street in Khorat was selected for the event because of its historical importance. "This was once known as the Likay district, as the whole street was occupied by over 200 likay troupes in its peak. The legendary Gatekong brothers [National Artist Boonyong Gatekong and his brother Boonyang] came to the neighbourhood and laid a strong foundation for likay. But the folk performance became less competitive and the number declined rapidly, now standing at under 20.

In 1960 a Thai man has been arrested for burning down his house in anger because his wife attended a "LIKAY" performance without him.

Likay popularity is decreasing as the main audience is made of old people.

CHINESE OPERA

Chinese opera

Chinese opera or theatre is called "GNIOU" (งิ้ว) in Thai language. Everything is Chinese: the story, the clothes even the words said by the actors are in Chinese. So when Thai people go to see such Chinese shows, most of them don't understand any words but can appreciate the beautiful clothes, the strange sound voice from the actors and so on...

Not so long ago, these theatres performances were very popular. For Thai people it was an opportunity to go out, to have some fun. But now these performances are more seldom. Younger generations prefer Thai or American movies. But "GNIOU" performances are not dying. Now most actors are Thai actors coming from "ISAN" (อีสาน - northeastern part of Thailand). "GNIOU" performances are made to make a gift to Chinese gods. So now performances are often made in front of a non living audience. They don't know any Chinese language but learn their roles by heart.

During Thai feasts, there is sometimes a mix of "GNIOU", "LIKAY" (ลิเก) performances, stalls with food, offering to Chinese gods and to Buddhist statues. Everybody go there, come back, discuss. Don't expect silence. Anyway nobody is understanding.

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