OBITUARY / NATIONAL ARTIST

Khon expert Seree dies at 70

PLOENPOTE ATTHAKOR

National Artist Seree Wangnaidham, a multi-talented classical dance and khon expert, has died aged 70. Ajarn Seree died from heart failure at Mission Hospital at 3am yesterday.

He was admitted to the hospital on Jan 29 after complaining of chest pains and fatigue while returning from a private elephant shelter in Chon Buri to select jumbos for a khon performance to be presented before HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at King Rama II Park in Samut Songkhram on Feb 10.

A devoted artist, Ajarn Seree began his career at the Fine Arts Department at a young age _ after he finished studying at the School of Dramatic Arts in Bangkok.

Although he retired from the Fine Arts Department in 1997, and due to his age made only rare stage appearances, he never stopped working as the department continued hiring him as a performing arts expert.

He had big achievements both as a producer and a performer and was named a National Artist in 1987, only one year after he made the Phu Chana Sip Thit drama series a phenomenal hit.

The production propelled to fame many artists including Pakorn Pornpisut and Supachai Chansuwan,who was named a National Artist in 2006.

Ajarn Seree, with his wit, immortalised his characters such as Maha Thera Kusodaw, master of the leading characters, Jadet and Mangtra, in Phu Chana Sip Thit and Thera Kawat in the Khun Chang, Khun Paen drama.

Ajarn Seree took great pride in creating in 2001 a ''dinosaur dance'' at the royal command of Princess Sirindhorn, who wanted new innovations in traditional dance.

Suphachai Chansuwan, his student who is now dean of the music and performing arts faculty at the Bundit Pattana Silapa Institute, said Ajarn Seree's death was a great loss to the performing arts circle and to himself.

''I first met him when I enrolled in the performing arts school at five years old. He was a father figure and I called him phaw [father] for he was a second father, who gave me life on the stage,'' he said.

Ajarn Seree is survived by his wife and four children.

Princess Sirindhorn is scheduled to attend royally-sponsored bathing rites at Wat Tri Tosathep at 4pm today.

Bangkok Post
Friday February 02, 2007