Telling history through cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera)

The setting of our base camp in the play "The Son of the Melaleuca Forest"

The Deputy Head of the Long An Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) Art Troupe, People's Artist Ho Ngoc Trinh, suggested that history could be "softened" and "told" more effectively. Nearly a year before the 2024 National Cai Luong Festival , many questions arose regarding the choice of themes for the performances. Should an old play be revived with a new style, or should a completely new play be created? Should the Troupe continue its long-standing policy of promoting the image of Long An's land and people through performances, or should it simply create an artistically rich play for the festival? If a historical theme is chosen, how can it resonate with the audience through the performance?

Telling history through art.

After much discussion and seeking guidance, the Long An Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) Art Troupe decided to create a completely new play about a historical period of resistance against French colonialism. The victory at Lang Le - Bau Co, with the crucial leadership role of revolutionary Truong Van Bang, was chosen as the "centerpiece" of the play.

The screenplay for "The Son of the Melaleuca Forest" was created based on real historical documents about a victory hailed as a "symbol of courage" of our army and people, and a talented, steadfast revolutionary, a son of Can Giuoc, Long An.

The role of Sister Út (based on the image of Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Một) in the play "The Daughter of the Melaleuca Forest"

More than just a dry historical account of guns and the harshness of war, "The Son of the Melaleuca Forest" is depicted through deeply human stories about love, family, and the suffering of people who have lost their country.

All these elements combine and complement each other, allowing viewers to both visualize a "slice" of society during the French colonial period and understand and be proud of the talent and bravery of their ancestors.

Unlike the dramatic climaxes in *The Life of My Mother* (which also explores the family of revolutionary Truong Van Bang), *The Son of the Melaleuca Forest* makes its mark through the profound psychological developments of each character, allowing the audience to clearly feel, empathize with, and be drawn into the plot of the entire play.

Furthermore, the constant transitions in stage settings not only vividly illustrate the contrast and disparity in forces and equipment between our side and the enemy, but also enhance the play's appeal. The meticulously prepared stage setting, combined with sound, lighting, and LED effects, increases the visual impact and minimizes scene transitions, resulting in a more continuous and immersive emotional experience for the audience.

The application of technology to the theatrical field is considered a strength of the Long An Cai Luong Art Troupe in recent years in its journey to preserve traditional art. In addition to incorporating technological effects, shadow puppetry and dance are also cleverly integrated into the performances to increase entertainment value and create appeal.

Shadow puppetry was incorporated into the play "The Son of the Melaleuca Forest" to enhance entertainment value and attract viewers.

The efforts of the artist

In "The Son of the Melaleuca Forest," a historical story is retold gently and skillfully through the language of cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera), through each plot point and character... The "plot twists" and "resolutions" all focus on the psychological development of the characters to create emotion and drama for the performance.

This is the second time he has played the revolutionary Truong Van Bang, and Meritorious Artist Vuong Tuan believes there is almost no overlap between the two portrayals because the aspects of the character are completely different. “The character of Anh Ba in the play is both a dignified and calm commander and a loving husband and father. He is not only courageous and resourceful against the enemy but also very humane in his handling of situations, easily winning people's hearts,” shared Meritorious Artist Vuong Tuan.

Not only Brother Ba, but each character in the play has their own unique story, thereby honoring patriotism, unity, and the resistance against foreign invaders of our people.

Playing the role of an old farmer "on the brink" due to circumstances, actor Ngan Cuong made the audience both laugh with his small comedic moments and shed tears over the hardships and repressed feelings in his life. "When I accepted the role of Mr. Tu, I stayed up many nights contemplating and understanding the character. This role is very different from the comedic or villainous roles I've played before," actor Ngan Cuong expressed.

It is these differences that made "The Son of the Melaleuca Forest," the work that won the Gold Medal at the 2024 National Cai Luong Festival, a success. A historical aspect is vividly and gently recreated through traditional art, and the fact that it kept young audiences engaged until the very end is considered a testament to "The Son of the Melaleuca Forest."

People's Artist Ho Ngoc Trinh said: “From the moment we conceived the idea, we meticulously prepared everything from the script to selecting actors for each role. The participation and harmonious collaboration of Meritorious Artists such as Ngoc Doi, Vuong Tuan, Vuong Sang, as well as talented young artists like Thu My, Phu Yen, Quynh Nhi, Tran Minh, Trong Tanh, and Phuong Nhi, contributed to the overall success of the performance. The Gold Medal at the 2024 National Cai Luong Festival is a great honor, and the enthusiastic reception from audiences inside and outside the province at the Traditional Night within the framework of the 2nd Long An Provincial Culture - Sports - Tourism Week in 2024 is truly a great source of motivation for the artists in the troupe to continue their journey of 'repaying the debt of the silkworm to the mulberry tree'."

Using the sweet and profound language of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera), "The Son of the Melaleuca Forest" recounts history in a deeply emotional and dramatic way. With a harmonious blend of traditional and modern elements, the play captivated audiences and demonstrated the enduring vitality of Cai Luong art to this day.

Moc Chau

Source: https://baolongan.vn/ke-su-bang-cai-luong-a194400.html