Where did the idea of a GTH stage play come from?
They launched a series of special projects to celebrate their 7th anniversary, including the movie Seven Something, but they wanted to do something different so they asked me to remake the play Lamsing Singer.

How did you come up with this plot?
Actually, I wrote and directed the stage play Lamsing Singer when I was a Communication Arts student at Chulalongkorn University. It is a tribute to my childhood memories when I was young and enjoyed listening to molam music. The plot [in this version] is pretty close to the original with some changes to make it more intense and add a bit more comedy.

What about the choice of characters?
Ter (Chantawit Thanasewee) and Opal (Panisara Phimpru) play their original roles. For the female lead, I wanted someone who had not acted on stage or in a comedy before to surprise the audience. I decided on Pancake (Khemanit Jamikorn) because she’s known for being a beautiful actress on Channel 7. It was a real challenge for her to play a character that’s the very opposite to her, but she does it very well.

What is the difference between directing a stage play and TV series?
There are so many people involved in a stage play. The tool to communicate the story is the actors. I have to ensure those sitting in the back row enjoy the show as much as the ones at the front. With a TV sitcom, it’s just going on between the screen and the audience at home.

What are your favorite and least favorite things about directing a stage play?
I love the atmosphere. Unity is very important, everyone needs to put a lot of effort in. It’s like a new family; you need to connect. There is nothing I don’t like about it, because even the struggles are just a challenge to make us grow up.

What struggles have you encountered?
People are key to a stage play, so they need to be stable. The work doesn’t end when the cameras stop like a sitcom. We have to trust each other. It’s been three months since we first rehearsed and it’s my job to ensure everyone is involved and OK emotionally from the beginning till the end. Real life is the drama behind the drama.

What is your favorite stage performance?
It’s Avenue Q from Broadway. But I didn’t take it as my inspiration. I always try to develop my own ideas because I won’t enjoy my work if I know it’s like someone else’s.

Would you like to direct more stage performances?
Yes, I also want to make a movie because I studied film and I’ve never done it. However, I think it depends on the subject to determine which medium you want to use, whether it’s stage, sitcom or film. It’s more about the subject than the timing.
 

BK: What’s your job like?
Pond: The first thing we do is change into our uniforms, and then we say hello to the owner downstairs. We work from 5pm to 11pm and have one day off per week. Our main job is to simply serve beer, but we also take drink and sometimes food orders. We also take the used glasses to the kitchen.
Mai: The job is like a waitress basically.

BK:  Why did you become beer girls?
Pond: My friend recommended this job to me. I also have a full-time job as a cashier, from 7am to 4pm. My salary was not enough to be able to send money back to my parents in my home province, so I’ve also worked this job for three years. It won’t be for much longer, though, because we’re getting older.
Mai: I also got a recommendation from a friend. I started this job five to six years ago. I used to work another job full-time, but I quit, so being a beer girl is my only income now.

BK: What are the advantages and disadvantages of being beer girls?
Pond: Advantages include learning languages and getting to chat with new people. But this job is risky; sometimes men take liberties and touch us.

BK: Do you often have weird customers?
Pond: Yes, they are usually drunk. One foreigner was pestering me for my phone number, so I walked away. Another said, “If you let me touch your breast, I’ll buy a Tiger beer,” which I just had to ignore.

BK: So, many guys try to pick you up?
Pond: Yes, a lot, but we never go home with them. However, sometimes if I get to know nice customers, I go out drinking with them after the pub closes. We are not allowed to drink with them while we’re working because we would get fired.
Mai: Also, we’re not meant to talk too much to customers.

BK: Do they tip more if you are flirty?
Pond: Sometimes, but most customers never leave tips.

BK: What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
Mai: After I retire from being a beer girl, I want to open a grocery shop or a cafe.
Pond: I already have a full-time job.