Written by Admin on August 7, 2013. Posted in Entertainment, News
The leader of the Mandalay-based Moustache Brothers comedy troupe, Par Par Lay, passed away last week at the age of 67 following a brief battle with illness.
The comedian died at his home on August 2, shortly after being discharged from hospital, his younger brother, Lu Maw, said.
He had been admitted to Mandalay Central Hospital on July 16 suffering from kidney and urinary problems and his family decided to discharge him after it became clear he would not recover.
Par Par Lay shot to international prominence in 1996 after he was jailed for seven years for mocking the military regime during an Independence Day anyeint performance at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's house in Yangon.
He was released in 2001 but banned from public performances. Instead, he conducted nightly "cultural shows" for mostly foreign audiences with his brother, Lu Maw, and cousin, Lu Zaw, at their Mandalay home on Mandalay's 39th Street. He was re-arrested twice for his activism, most recently in 2007.
Lu Maw said he had appeared to be improving following a kidney operation but his condition deteriorated a few days before his death.
"The doctors took good care of him but a blood vessel in his heart was blocked. He had been suffering from these ailments for a long time and we were very late to send him to the hospital," he said.
Lu Maw said Par Par Lay had complained of a sore back in early 2013 but had refused to seek treatment because he wanted to continue his "no fear" campaign, which had seen him tour rural areas and give public speeches. During this year's water festival he had also toured Mandalay on a decorated float and conducted Thangyat performances.
"He travelled over a period of three months to many places to give his 'no fear' talk to the public … He was also tired from his travels," he said.
Lu Maw, 65, said he would continue performing with Lu Zaw.
"I have to continue on my own, leading my family and offering entertainment to audiences. I also worked like this before during the three times he was in jail."
In one of his final interviews before succumbing to illness, Par Par Lay had told The Myanmar Times on July 29 he had been suffering from the conditions for several months, during which he had lost a significant amount of weight.
He had expressed hope that he would recover and continue performing and speaking.
"I still want to entertain to the public."
News Photo from Myanmartimes
http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/vale-par-par-lay/
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