While in the rest of the year, a Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) performance might only appear once every few months, during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), Cai Luong performances are held continuously from the 2nd to the 15th day of the lunar month, packed with acts at the Tran Huu Trang Theater and Hong Lien Theater (Ho Chi Minh City). The Hong Lien Theater is where the Huynh Long troupe registers to perform three consecutive shows. Meanwhile, the Tran Huu Trang Theater hosts troupes 1 and 2, along with the Chi Linh - Van Ha group, Hoang Hai Production, and Dai Viet stage, sharing the performance days. Large, colorful banners adorn the theater facades, creating a festive and captivating atmosphere, reminiscent of the theater's golden age.
Hoang Hai and Thy Trang in the play Kim Ngoc Luong Duyen
PHOTO: HK
The Huynh Long troupe performed " Tu Trang Dang Khoa ," the Dai Viet stage staged " Ganh Cai Trang Nguyen ," the Chi Linh - Van Ha stage collaborated with Hoang Hai to invest in " Kim Ngoc Luong Duyen ," and the Tran Huu Trang Theater staged " Giac Mong Dem Xuan" and "Phuoc Loc Tho ." All were lighthearted, colorful plays, suitable for the spring season, rather than following the historical trajectory of everyday life. Ancient stories didn't need to specify the era; the characters weren't real, only vaguely alluding to them, but what mattered was conveying humanity, propriety, righteousness, wisdom, and trustworthiness, providing viewers with moments of joy and relaxation, while also offering moral lessons – that was enough. The value of Cai Luong lies in the fact that, no matter how entertaining it is, it still maintains its moral core. And Cai Luong artists, no matter how cheerful or colorful their performances, still uphold artistic standards.
Watching Vo Minh Lam, Que Tran, Tu Suong, Thanh Thao, Bao Tri, Hoang Hai, Chi Linh, Van Ha, Binh Tinh… perform in the Tet play, one can clearly see their spectacular transformation. From heroic and tragic historical figures, they now appear vibrant, flexible, and witty without being careless or sloppy. They truly are versatile actors.
Another impressive aspect is that each performance receives substantial investment, with meticulously crafted sets, magnificent costumes, not to mention the expensive dance and smoke effects... averaging around 500 million VND per show. Artist Hoang Hai confided: "For traditional Cai Luong opera, the costumes must be beautiful, the singing and dancing must be vibrant; we can't skimp. Even for a single performance, we still have to invest fully." The audience was thoroughly entertained. However, it's truly regrettable that the schedule only allows one performance, and although tickets are almost sold out, it's uncertain whether we'll recoup our investment. Producer Hoang Song Viet laughed: "It's our calling, we're happy to perform regardless of profit or loss. We'll just make up for it by doing other shows; we don't worry about it anymore. Keeping Cai Luong opera alive is our happiness."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cai-luong-mua-dau-tu-lon-185260301205649698.htm
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