THE EVOLUTION OF NGO PA DANCE DRAMA

Abstract

This article aimed to present the evolution of Ngo Pa dance performance which has been evolved continuously. King Rama V was the author of this royal writing. The performance was first done in 1907 at Saisavali Bhiromya’s palace. It was assumed that most performers who were main characters were female because the performance was done in the inner court. However, some supporting characters were young males whose age was not old enough to stay in the outer court. Then, in the reign of King Rama VI, Chudadhuj Dharadilok (King Rama VI’s brother) had a purpose to organize Ngo Pa performance at his palace using performers from the group of Wang Suankularb Theater who were female. They developed the makeup using European cosmetics instead of traditional Chinese cosmetics. They coated their skin with black dust and curled hair according to the role and characteristic of “Ngo Pa”. The costumes for male characters were t-shirt tucked in loincloths, and female characters wore two-ended breast cloth. Ngo Pa was performed again in the reign of King Rama VII; however, it was not performed in the reign of King Rama VIII. In the reign of King Rama IX, the Fine Arts Department organized Ngo Pa dance performance many times. For example, before 1968 all characters were still female, and the costumes used in the performance was the same as those in the reign of King Rama VI. Since 1968, the Fine Arts Department organized the new type of performance by using performers with the same gender to those characters and changing the costumes. This kind of performance was organized again in the reign of King Rama X.

          Up to now, Ngo Pa dance performance has appeared in every era. Initially, the performance was done by females according to the traditional way. Then, the Fine Arts Department changed to use performers with the real gender due to its popularity among audience while the plot was still the same. What have been evolved are performers’ gender and costumes in order to be suitable for this period, have more reality, and increase enjoyment in viewing.