Moradok Mai revives one of Bangkok Theatre Festival 2008's most acclaimed plays.

Moradok Mai Theatre Troupe is bringing a chilling tale back to life this weekend, restaging "Wao Thi Thuk Chak" ("The Masturba-tor"), which premiered at a small cafe on Phra Athit Road last November as part of BTF08 and won warm praise from the critics, including The Nation.

The play is a dramatic adaptation of a true story that hit the headlines in 2000, when a private videotape of a Thai high schooler's sexual antics with her boyfriend was put on the Internet and became a favourite download. She committed suicide.

"I found it heartbreaking when I discovered the girl in the video clip was already dead," says director Tanachon Chandruang, son of theatre guru Janaprakal "Kru Chang" Chandruang.

While other mass media focused their attention on the outcome of the scandal, the play concentrates more on the process leading up to it. The plot focuses on a group of boys who are making a porno video clip and are in search of a "lead actress".

While the revival is a more complete version of the play, Tanachon says audiences may not find it as provocative as last November's production.

"This is actually the version we wanted to do back then, but could not due to space and time limitations. We're using three actresses instead of one but, syntactically speaking, it seems like all boys are the same, and so are the girls."

All nine performers are students at the Education Ministry-certified Moradok-mai Home School.

Despite the play's strong language and mature situations, the director wants everyone to be able to watch it and has not set any age restriction.

"There will be a post-show dialogue between the audience and the cast and crew after all performances. The main message is simple: Please stop being selfish and carefully consider your actions as some of them may actually be evil. I think this is a duty of all mass media."

XTRA

WHat's happening?

>> "The Masturbator" will be performed tomorrow and Sunday and again on July 26 and 27 at Makhampom Studio (BTS: Saphan Kwai), at 2pm and 7.30pm.

>> Tickets are Bt200 and Bt150 for students.

>> Call (02) 616 8473 or visit www.MoradokMai.com.