OPINION
Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
January 15, 2018
Volume 28 Number 2
January 15, 2018
ISSN: 1094-9453
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MY TURN
n Dmae Roberts
Prince Gomolvilas
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Another aspect of The Brothers Paranormal is the
wo years ago, I spoke with Prince Gomol-
vilas about a potential trip to Portland to use of “ghosts” as a metaphor for the alienation and
workshop his new original play before its isolation many immigrants feel when displaced
world premiere in 2019. Finally the time has come from their country of origin into mostly white rural
to unveil The Brothers Paranormal, presented by areas. The “ghost” themes in the play also speak of
the grief one goes through when missing a loved one
Theatre Diaspora, a project of MediaRites.
The Brothers Paranormal focuses on two who has passed on. All the characters in the
Thai-American brothers living in the Midwest who production — both Thai and African American —
deal with that loss. And the show also
capitalize
on
recent
strange
brings up little-talked-about resis-
phenomena of Asian ghost sightings
tance that minority communities
(probably due to truly frightening
often might feel toward the
movies such as The Ring and The
mental-health profession. Although
Grudge). The first client of the
cultural communities often have high
brothers is an African-American
rates of depression, alcoholism, and
couple displaced by Hurricane
suicide, it’s difficult for many
Katrina. At its heart, the play is
immigrants and people of color to get
about
cross-cultural
characters
past the stigma of seeking help for
dealing with grief, loss, and the
mental health.
ghosts of the departed. Through
In fact, Prince Gomolvilas said his
authentic characters based on myth
inspiration for the mental-health
and memory, audiences experience
laughter, spookiness, and gripping The Brothers Paranormal by
themes comes from an experience of
poignant moments.
one of his family members who was
Prince Gomolvilas (pictured)
The mission of Theatre Diaspora is runs January 19 to 21 at Port-
hearing voices and seeing visions.
to shed light on Asian American and land State University’s Lincoln
Instead of going to a western doctor,
Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities Hall. (Photo/Cheshire Isaacs)
they sought out a “monk” who lived
that are rarely represented in American theatre. miles away in a suburb. He said the conditions the
Thai stories are rarely told, especially in theatre, medical community might ascribe as mental illness
hence the playwright, Prince Gomolvilas, proudly are often referred to as “spiritual sickness” in
calls himself the “best-known” Thai-American several Asian communities. He reported that his
playwright in professional theatre.
family member improved after the visit to the monk.
I’ve learned a lot researching some of the themes
Though he lived in Thailand when he was a baby,
in the play, including the difference between Thai Prince Gomolvilas was born in and grew up in
and American funerals. In Thailand, a Buddhist Indianapolis, Indiana. He received the name Prince
funeral may last many days. A bathing ceremony in because his kindergarten teacher couldn’t
which guests pour holy water over the deceased is pronounce his Thai name — “Khamolpat” — or his
the first step in the process. The body is then nickname — “Binm” — so he was crowned “Prince.”
dressed and placed in a coffin for display for up to a
Because of his visibility as a playwright in Los
week in a temple or home. For religious leaders, Angeles, Prince Gomolvilas has been sought out by
government officials, or royalty, a body may lie in the Thai community for projects to bring more
state from six months to two years. Afterward, there visibility to Thais. In 2010, he was asked to put
is a funeral procession before the body is cremated.
together a forum of Thai-American writers in Los
I was intrigued when I heard one of Prince’s Angeles for the PEN Center and the University of
characters comment that American funerals are so Southern California. In 2013, he developed a play to
sad and “boo-hoo,” while Thai funerals have a sense raise awareness about Thai human trafficking for
of celebration with a party for the person to enter the Thai Community Development Center. And in
the next life. One character even mentions the 2014, he produced the entertainment portion of that
existence of gambling at a funeral party. During my organization’s 20th anniversary gala and also
internet searches, I discovered that while gambling served as host. He’s met with the Thai Rotary Club,
is generally prohibited in Thailand, it appears to be been to the Thai consul general’s home, and met
a common part of Thai life and culture even in with the Thai Prime Minister, along with other com-
funerals. “Funeral casinos” indeed exist; a book was munity members, to talk about issues important to
even written about it — Alan Klima’s The Funeral the Thai-American community.
Casino (Princeton University Press).
Continued on page 10
T
Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication.