KHON THAI CLASSICAL MASK DANCE THEATRE
Khon (Thai: โขน), The Thai Classical Mask Dance Theatre has been performed in Thailand since the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767). Khon is an art form that combines theatre and dance. The story is being told by a narrator who is accompanied by the Thai classical orchestra (Piphat) and is presented by troupes of non-speaking dancers.
Most Khon performances feature episodes from the Hindu Ramayana, the epic tale of Prince Rama and his wife Sita and the struggle between good and evil. Current Khon performances present episodes from the Ramakian, the Thai version of Ramayana that was composed by the court poet of King Rama I in 1798. To create his version King Rama I collected sources from all the available materials that had survived since the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767. During the Ayutthaya period, Khon performances were held in palace halls or courtyards and were lighted by torches. The performances that presented the whole Ramakian lasted for several days. Since the story was already familiar, the audience could leave for a while and then return to pick it up at another stage.
The story relates the birth of prince Rama, the son of queen Kao Suriya and king Totsarot of Ayutthaya, and his later marriage with Sida, the daughter of king Janaka. Sida is kidnapped by the demon king Totsakan (also known as Rawana) who abducts her to Longka, the present Sri Lanka. Then follows the account of the lengthy battle between Rama and the ten-headed Totsakan, in which Rama is assisted by mythical half-man half-animal characters, including the courageous monkey-god Hanuman, always depicted in white. The battle brings the defeat of Totsakan and the salvation of Sida, after which Rama
All khon actors are elaborately dressed ‘from head to toe’. Each piece of ornament and headdress is specifically assigned to a particular character. The costumes are often fitted and sewn on the dancer prior to the performance. The most popular male characters are: Totsakan (the Giant King), Rama (the Human King), Hanuman (the Monkey Warrior). The narrator of the story not only has to know the stories but also the dancers' as well as the orchestra’s rhythm.
The formalised movements of Khon performance make the acting and dancing inseparable. Each step has a meaning that is emphasised by the appropriate music, narration and song. In Khon performance each character is identified by the appropriate mask.
