Director TRAN QUYNH ANH: Keeping the fire burning for the cai luong stage

According to young female director Tran Quynh Anh, Cai Luong cannot survive if it loses its national soul.

Many audiences requested that the cai luong play "San Hau" be re-performed, which proves that the young female director Tran Quynh Anh's tireless efforts are recognized, lighting up in her the belief in pursuing her ancestral career.

From "little Lan" to "director San Hau"

Director Tran Quynh Anh had a passion for art at a very early age. When she was in 10th grade, she was mentored by Meritorious Artist Bach Long at the Cai Luong acting class of the Children's House of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City (formerly).

Not a child of a musical family, nor coming to the profession through a path paved with flowers, Tran Quynh Anh diligently studied and cultivated each basic step, from gait, singing style, to eyes, singing lines and above all, the spirit of discipline in each practice session.

After graduating from high school, the little girl decided to take the exam to study stage directing at the University of Theatre and Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City. During her studies, she was both a directing student and a professional actress. Starting from small roles such as: little Lan in the play "The White Horse and the Giant Radish", Thien Loi's wife in the play "Toad suing the sky", to the role of Hau Nhi in "Hau Nhi Cuu Chu", Trieu Qui in "Long Lan Quy Phung", or the role of Luu Kim Dong in the play "Ngoc Sang Luu Gia Trang"...

"Quynh Anh has the ability to transform into diverse characters and has a deep understanding of the history of Cai Luong art. I am happy that she is growing up and asserting herself" - Meritorious Artist Bach Long commented.

Director Tran Quynh Anh

Affirming professional qualities

For her graduation report, Tran Quynh Anh chose to stage "San Hau" - a classic play of traditional theater. This was not an easy choice for a new graduate. "San Hau" is famous for its massive structure, many layers, dense characters and strict requirements on rules, techniques with a conventional singing and acting style that requires a thorough understanding of Hat Boi knowledge and research on cultural identity factors before being able to stage it.

But that also shows the courage and professional capacity of the young girl. Quynh Anh's production does not break the traditional structure but retains the soul of the ancient opera. However, in the staging, she shows care in transitions, methodical organization of stage layout with lighting, art design, makeup, costumes, props... And also guiding the actors to play the right character style to create a visual space rich in emotions.

With "San Hau", Tran Quynh Anh did not try to "noisily innovate", as she wished, so that young audiences could immerse themselves in the old-fashioned style of Tuong but still feel close to contemporary life. "She had an impressive debut with the work "San Hau", marking the maturity of a young talent who has gradually shaped a direction on the young Cai Luong stage" - Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong commented.

The success of the play "San Hau" is a personal highlight for Quynh Anh, contributing to reminding the young generation of directors who are continuing to keep the fire burning for the cai luong stage with respect and a serious spirit of artistic work.

A scene from the play “San Hau”. (Photo provided by the character)

The person who "goes against" the trend

Tran Quynh Anh's journey is the crystallization of personal passion and guidance from her predecessors. From her first teacher - Meritorious Artist Bach Long - to talented directors such as Meritorious Artist Duc Hai, Meritorious Artist Cao Duc Xuan Hong, People's Artist Giang Manh Ha... They helped her understand that the director's profession is not just about giving orders but also about being a storyteller and above all, one must tell with heart, vision and seriously trained skills.

Not stopping at the role of director, she was an assistant director for Meritorious Artist Kim Tu Long in the play "Song kiem uyen uong" at Minh To Stage - a stage famous for traditional opera. That experience gave her more skills in observation, analysis and stage coordination, preparing for her future steps.

"I like plays with a spirit of humanity and patriotism" - is the sincere sharing from Tran Quynh Anh when asked about career orientation. In the context of many theaters following commercial trends, this choice sounds "hard to sell tickets". But for her, Cai Luong cannot survive if it loses the national soul, which is the spirit of humanity, kindness, loyalty and humanity.

"For me, each play must be carefully prepared. That is also the way an artist respects the audience and respects the profession" - Tran Quynh Anh expressed.

Tran Quynh Anh's plan in the near future is to adapt some high-quality scripts that have been recognized by experts, to "learn more about the profession and hone her skills". It is still a learning path, but it is learning from the stage itself, from collisions, from sweat on the rehearsal floor and also from the audience's gaze after each performance.

Tran Quynh Anh as Phan Diem (play "San Hau")

After the success of the graduation report, the play "San Hau" will be performed again on the evening of August 23 at Tran Huu Trang Theater, with the participation of Meritorious Artist Kim Tu Long. This is a good sign for the art of reformed opera. "I believe that classical values still have an audience and the young generation can still be the ones to preserve them if they have enough heart" - Tran Quynh Anh confided.

Director Tran Quynh Anh is not a "phenomenon", but a person who has learned the profession with a roadmap, progressing with a creative work spirit and faith in the national theater. In her, people see the extension of a journey without complacency. And perhaps, that is the most fundamental way to keep the cai luong theater always lit.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/dao-dien-tran-quynh-anh-giu-lua-cho-san-khau-cai-luong-196250802184322872.htm