Weaving the popular band's songs into a jokey script takes a great deal of time

True Fantasia and Work Point Entertainment, better known for TV work than theatre, have together produced a stage musical with pricey tickets - Bt3,500 for the best seats.

For another Bt500 you could see "Mamma Mia!"

"The Legend of Re Khai Fun: Chaliang the Musical" clocks in at three and a half hours, and there's a 20-minute intermission too.

True Fantasia seems to have realised that not everyone from the cast of "Academy Fantasia" is made for a musical and has selected only those who can sing, act and fit a character.

Work Point, however, is sticking to its old student-comedy format.

This is a "jukebox musical" - the songs are all well-known hits. Success lies in how the songs are reinterpreted and laced into a plausible dramatic story.

Unfortunately, success proves elusive in this show, which suffers from too many unnecessary gags and superfluous songs, the story line struggling to connect to Chaliang's lyrics, which in turn refuse to goose the script along.

Breathtaking Mint

The cast is a mixed bag. The most outstanding performer is Mint AF3, who excels in both singing and acting, fuelled by sheer energy and charm, a spotless musical-theatre star.

With the hero's charisma, Boy AF2 shows why he's the most successful actor from the TV reality series. And Tol AF4 shows he's a true villain with exemplary subtlety and sincerity.

There is credible acting from Lukpong AF4, Nat AF4 and Bow AF5, but when the music starts, they think they're putting on a concert, so they drop their dramatic characters.

Tee AF4 is never convincing in his role as a father, but veteran actors Suprawat Pattamasoot, Yanee Tramote and Pawanrat Naksuriya are all delights and solidify the overall performance.

"Re Khai Fun" is entertaining, sporadically, but you're better off enjoying Chaliang's music by simply listening to the CDs - or seeing them onstage in person.

To see the full review, visit Blog.Nationmultimedia.com/DanceAndTheatre.

 ACADEMY MUSICALIA

>> "The Legend of Re Khai Fun: Chaliang the Musical" continues at M Theatre every Friday through Sunday until October 18. Show time is 7.30 and with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2.

>> Tickets are Bt800 to Bt3,500 at www.We-Booking.com and True Shops.

 >> On the Internet: www.ReKhaiFun.com.