Two Lives of Harmony and Reconciliation are tormented by the Life of Desire

Hai Đời Hòa Hiệp day dứt với Đời Như Ý - Ảnh 1. — Hoa Hiep transformed into Hai Doi next to his two children Nhu and Y - Photo: HO LAM

The play "Life as You Wish" (author: Bui Quoc Bao adapted from the short story of the same name by writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu) was chosen by Trang Nha as the graduation exam for K9 stage directing major at the University of Theatre and Cinema in Ho Chi Minh City, premiered on the evening of July 23.

Trang Nha chose this script to stage because she loved the title and saw a similarity between the literary material in Nguyen Ngoc Tu's story and herself. The play features the participation of artists Hoa Hiep (as Hai Doi); Ly Kieu Hanh (as Ma Nam); Bui Cong Danh (as Khuong); Le Trang (as Chi Tam) and many other actors.

**Hoa Hiep missed out on Doi Nhu Y 3 times.**

Having won 5 awards at the 2012 National Theater Festival, the script "Doi Nhu Y" by author Bui Quoc Bao received many compliments for successfully portraying unfortunate but tolerant and resilient lives overcoming their fate in the land of the Mekong Delta.

The central character of the play is the blind man Hai Doi. He had a beautiful and pure love for the orphan girl Suong but then missed it.

Hai Doi ignored the criticism and slander and accepted to take care of Be Ba, a girl with a mental illness and pregnant due to abuse.

They boarded a boat, left their hometown, sold lottery tickets together to make a living, and built a new home with love. After Be Ba gave birth to twins, Hai Doi named them Nhu and Y in the hope of having a life as they wished.

But fate still did not let go when the person who caused the tragedy for Bé Ba returned to demand his son back to have an heir...

Đời Như Ý - Ảnh 2. — Family scene of Hai Doi and Be Ba on the boat - Photo: HO LAM

The scene where Hoa Hiep shows his despair and inner turmoil when he has to separate from his wife and children, or his tolerance, kindness, and even stubbornness when he takes all the mistakes and hardships upon himself so that Be Ba can have a brighter life, moves viewers.

Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online , Hoa Hiep said that he was offered this role three times by other directors but "failed" because he was busy with filming.

"I don't know why this time we had enough fate," Hiep said happily. "Besides, I'm also studying stage directing, so I understand the difficulties of directors in finding actors, so I try to arrange time to accompany Trang Nha."

Rotating stage effect in director Trang Nha's production of "Life as You Wish" - Video : HO LAM

Trang Nha wishes life as desired

Trang Nha began staging Doi Nhu Y around the beginning of June. She was also the first person in the K9 class to write a graduation play.

Even though this is a stage play that has been staged many times with many different versions, young director Trang Nha still decided to choose this play as her graduation thesis because it came from a very ordinary desire.

"I really like the name Life As You Wish . I know life is never really as you wish, but I still hope that I and everyone can live a life as you wish in your own way," Nha confided.

Because she had many previous productions, creating her own mark was a great pressure for the young stage directing student.

Nha shared: "I have watched many versions of previous artists, they are very good and have a lot of experience. As a new student, I try my best with my sincerity and emotions."

Đời Như Ý - Ảnh 3. — The touching scene of Doi Nhu Y's father and son reunion - Photo: HO LAM

The stage built by Trang Nha is quite rustic with simple props such as: a boat, a thatched roof, a coconut boat... In many segments, she has beautiful ways of handling the stage and lighting. For example, the stage rotates according to the rowing of the Hai Doi family's boat to leave and reach new lands, floating along the water.

The play also has vọng cổ verses, soulful folk songs such as: White Orphan Bird, Green Betel Leaf... through the haunting sound of Hai Doi's guitar. The lullaby, the sound of the guitar, the rope connecting Hai Doi, Be Ba's mother and child are small but valuable details, creating depth for the story.

According to Trang Nha, the script of Doi Nhu Y is not only dramatic but also full of literary qualities.

"I chose to bring elements of the West to the stage because I am from Ben Tre , so I can clearly understand the river space and local culture. Through the writing of writer Nguyen Ngoc Tu, I want the audience to understand more about my hometown," Nha said.

Staging an old theme for her graduation play was Trang Nha’s smart choice. But to be able to go a long way in the future as a professional stage director, she needs to boldly challenge herself in plays that are more novel and experimental.