Literary quality elevates comedy.

In early August, the New Stage, featuring many renowned comedians, will present the play "A Love Affair" to the audience.

Comedy based on literary novels by writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu has elevated the quality of humor.

In fact, plays starring Hoài Linh, Việt Hương, Lê Giang, Minh Nhí, Cát Phượng, Hoàng Phi, Lâm Vỹ Dạ, and others have gradually moved away from chasing popular trends and instead opted for a simple, serious, and realistic storytelling approach. This is thanks to producers deciding to invest in literary scripts and young directors finding ways to tell stories in a serious manner.

Without loud pronouncements, excessive use of special effects, or cheap humor, many young stage directors in Ho Chi Minh City are quietly pursuing a different path: staging plays based on a solid literary foundation. They focus on exploring the psychological depth of characters, building everyday settings, and using familiar yet metaphorical dialogue to create simple yet poignant plays.

In this context, the participation of renowned artists such as Hoài Linh, Việt Hương, Minh Nhí, Hữu Nghĩa, Quốc Thảo, Thanh Thủy, Cát Phượng, Hoàng Phi, Quách Ngọc Tuyên… is a special support. These stars are willing to compromise themselves to serve the overall spirit of the play: telling a story with integrity.

Literature is a precious resource.

On the evening of August 2nd, the play "A Love Story" will premiere at the New Stage (Khang Media), a prime example of the trend towards literary-rich staging by young directors. Minh Nhat and Cong Huy are two young directors who chose this literary play as their graduation project for directing at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Film.

Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh and the actors in the play "A Love Story". (Photo provided by New Stage)

Both chose to explore the theme of a husband abandoned by his wife because she found him poor, and his longing for her return. However, instead of joy and happiness at their reunion, after more than a decade of faithfulness, the truth becomes even more cruel. Avoiding melodrama, the play unfolds like a gentle stream of reminiscence, emphasizing inner depth rather than outward actions.

The portrayal of a quintessential Southern Vietnamese old man by Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh promises to be a noteworthy turning point. Having previously performed in comedic plays with a natural acting style, Hoai Linh is a character that audiences are eagerly anticipating in this production.

Not only "A Love Affair," but also "Lost in the Sea of ​​People" (Ho Chi Minh City Theatre Association), which made a strong impression at the first Ho Chi Minh City Theatre Festival in 2024, clearly showed the literary imprint in its staging. The roles of Mr. Tai and Mrs. Nam - played by Meritorious Artist Hoai Linh and comedian Viet Huong - are two insignificant people who keep searching for each other, only to realize that their feeling of being lost in the city stems from their own souls.

The play lacks dramatic climaxes and moralistic pronouncements, instead gently guiding the audience through memories and the present via haunting, everyday dialogues.

Director Minh Nhat was fortunate to choose the "hidden" approach, allowing the characters to reveal themselves through their genuine actions and words. Comedian Viet Huong delivers monologues that are almost whispers, yet contain a wealth of inner conflict.

The gold medals awarded to both actors at the festival not only recognize their performances but also represent the culmination of a theatrical approach deeply rooted in literature, emphasizing detail, restrained expression, and prompting audience reflection.

People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc commented: "I am very happy to see that today's young directors are not chasing market trends but returning to the core of theater: scripts with depth and characters with inner lives. They understand that without literature and a foundation of ideology, theater is merely a short-term form of entertainment."

The collaboration of renowned artists

A key factor in the spread of these literary plays is the serious participation of many renowned artists. This time, they gathered at the New Stage, all familiar faces from film and comedy, but in recent plays, they accepted taking a step back, abandoning their exaggerated acting style to delve into the psychological depth of their characters.

Meritorious Artist Ca Lê Hồng shared: "It's not easy for a comedian to transition to political drama or psychological drama, but Hoài Linh and Việt Hương have managed to do it. I believe the credit largely lies in the literary script and the director's astuteness. When literature guides them, artists are placed within the right emotional framework to express themselves without getting lost."

According to Ms. Ca Le Hong, literature does not make theater heavy or difficult to understand if handled subtly. Plays such as "A Love Affair," "Lost in a Sea of ​​People," "An Emotional Reunion," "Deep Night," "Another War," and "The Sugar-Coated Bullet" are examples of this.

"The audience can still laugh at the very charming comedic situations, but it's a laugh of compassion, sometimes even accompanied by a gentle tear. A serious play still needs charming comedic scenes, so moderation and adherence to the situation are important," added Meritorious Artist Ca Lê Hồng.

A direction that needs to be nurtured.

The resurgence of literary elements in contemporary theater in Ho Chi Minh City, through the approaches of young directors, is a necessary foundation for building a lasting identity.

In the context of Ho Chi Minh City's theater scene lacking new, high-quality scripts that closely reflect current events, investing in and staging works that explore psychological life, family emotions, love, and memories... in a literary spirit is a direction that needs continued support and development.

Following "A Love Affair," New Stage will continue with "The Mischievous Boarding House," "The Ghost of Le Hoa Theater," etc., demonstrating a diverse range of genres and a wide audience reach.

If successful, this runway show will become a model worth emulating in its return to what is simple, profound, and authentic.

"No need for a grand stage, elaborate lighting, or complex techniques; just a decent story and authentic characters are enough for today's stage in Ho Chi Minh City to move audiences. This is being proven by emotionally rich performances, directed by young directors and supported by dedicated artists," analyzed People's Artist Tran Minh Ngoc.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/chat-van-hoc-nang-tam-hai-kich-196250729201030119.htm