Abstract:
This ethnographic research aimed to investigate the areas of Development. Semiotics and Audience appreciation of Likay. Research methodologies for this study can be divided into essentially three approaches : 1) Observation of Likay performances and participation in the performing between September 2000 to February 2001 2) Inteiviews with key informants, performers and audience 3) Documentary Research Results of the research were as follows : Likay has developed and combined with traditional and modern performances, for example Raniglueng song, make-up costumes and stories are related to King and country. Today costumes are more elegant and income is increased with more Thai country songs performed during intermissions and conclusion which lead to release of country music albums. The form of special program is changed. These depend on the power of mass media 1 modernization and its own maintenance. Likays semiotics focus on beauty of costumes, make-up, stage, setting, light and sound, provide pleasure to audience. The performer should have singing, dancing and Improvisation skills and be interactive with audience. Audience can be classified in three groups 1) appreciate Likay performances only. 2) appreciate performances and actors. 3) appreciate actors only. The aesthetic factors of audience appreciation include 1) Beauty 2) Characters and performances 3) Interaction between performers and audience 4) special relationship between actors and audience.