Northern Vietnamese cải lương (traditional opera) meets Southern audiences.

Over two days, May 20th and 21st, as part of the 2026 National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition, audiences in Ho Chi Minh City had the opportunity to watch contestants from the northern provinces compete.

Actress Ngoc Linh portrays the character Ngoc Tran in the performance "Small Pebbles and High Mountains" - Photo: LINH DOAN

The art of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) is interesting because it is not only a "cultural specialty" of the South but is also very popular among people in the North and Central regions.

The unique characteristics of Northern Vietnamese cải lương (traditional opera).

Before 1975, the North already had theater troupes with famous actresses and actors who were renowned throughout the country.

Proof of this is the case of impresario Long and actress Kim Chung, who started in the North and later established the Kim Chung troupe, creating a series of brilliant cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) stars in Saigon such as Minh Cảnh, Minh Phụng, Mỹ Châu, Lệ Thủy, Thanh Điền, Thanh Kim Huệ, Minh Vương…

From its beginnings to the present day, although no longer as powerful as before, some cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) troupes still maintain their activities and create a very unique style of cải lương in Northern Vietnam.

The Vietnam National Traditional Theatre presented six performances that captivated the audience thanks to the investment and meticulous attention to detail in staging, costumes, music , character design, and the actors' performances.

The six performances were staged based on different scripts, with a large proportion featuring historical and folk elements. For example, " Small Pebbles and High Mountains" tells the story of Ngoc Tran (played by Ngoc Linh), the third wife of Le Loi. "The Jailer" by Nguyen Van Hiep is a tale of loyalty and devotion to the wise prince.

Hoang Tuan Thinh plays Co Sau in "The Heart of a Wolf" . Minh Nguyet is deeply moved by Ly Chieu Hoang 's feelings. Thu Phuong portrays the melancholic landlady in "The Burning Wine Shop ".

Despite having an unusual script among the six performances, the character of Macbeth in Ngan Ha's "Lady Macbeth's Improvisations " was the most impressive.

The performance was harmonious overall, meticulously staged, creative, and full of hidden meanings. The actors' calm and mature performances, transitioning through different psychological states, made Ngan Ha's character captivating and endearing to the audience.

Nguyen Van Hiep performing the play "The Jailer" - Photo: LINH DOAN

Concerns about young talent

Besides the leading unit, the Vietnam National Traditional Theatre, over the two days, viewers also had the opportunity to enjoy performances by actors from the Hanoi Cai Luong Theatre, the Lam Son Cultural and Arts Center of Thanh Hoa, the Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theatre, and the Hai Phong Traditional Theatre.

While the two major theaters in Hanoi still demonstrate their potential with a considerable number of young talents, the situation in provincial theaters raises concerns about the availability of young performers.

Actresses Cao Thi Nhung and Tran Ngoc Tuan from the Ninh Binh Provincial Traditional Arts Theatre performed the same act, "Oan Nghiet" (Unjust Accusation) - Photo: LINH DOAN

There are roles such as schoolgirls or young girls, but the actors portray them too maturely, preventing the audience from feeling the youthful energy of the characters.

Looking at that situation, it's admirable that there are still people dedicated to preserving and seeking out talent to continue cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) in the North.

Perhaps the competition will also be an opportunity for managers to reflect and find solutions to address the difficulties faced by some units. Because Northern Vietnamese cải lương (traditional opera) still has its own unique flavor, contributing to the richness of cải lương art in general.

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LINH DOAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cai-luong-dat-bac-gap-go-khan-gia-phuong-nam-20260521142335251.htm