The play "The Suburban People" is about the indomitable spirit and silent sacrifice of the people of 18 villages of Ba Diem Betel Garden - Hoc Mon, and has become one of the classic works of reformed opera.
FIRST IMPRESSION
First released in 1975 under the name Battle of the Suburban Area , the play was staged by the Southern Drama Troupe at the Hanoi Opera House, then adapted into a reformed opera by playwright Nguyen Gia Nghiem and performed by the Saigon 1 Troupe in 1976. The Suburban Area is like a blazing fire, reflecting the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese army and people during the heroic years of resistance.
Artist Ut Tra On and artist Thanh Duoc in the play People on the outskirts of the city
PHOTO: DOCUMENT
The play is set in the traditional betel growing land on the outskirts of Saigon - Gia Dinh before 1975, with gentle people who are always ready to stand up for the Fatherland. The two central characters are Mr. Tam Khoe and Mr. Bay Don, simple farmers with patriotic hearts. The peaceful life of the villagers was disrupted when the war broke out. American advisors and the station chief - Captain Tien launched many psychological attacks such as arresting, oppressing, and humiliating young women to shake the revolutionary spirit. They forced Mr. Tam Khoe to say "separate from the Viet Cong" and enticed Bay Don's son to join the national army. In the crisis, Mr. Tam Khoe misspoke, causing confusion among the villagers, their faith was shaken. He fell into a state of half-consciousness, tormenting himself because of the feeling of betraying his ideals. Mr. Bay Don did not abandon his friend, tried his best to revive Tam Khoe's spirit, creating emotional scenes that touched the hearts of the audience.
Under the leadership of the revolution - typically the cadre Sau Ho and the secretary Tu Ha, despite the lack of living conditions and weapons, the people in the suburban areas still rose up. Personal conflicts were gradually resolved, giving way to a spirit of solidarity in combat. The climax of the play was the fierce battles, where Mr. Tam Khoe became a great source of inspiration for his comrades, along with the painful losses when soldiers sacrificed one after another. The resistance was victorious, the people of 18 villages of Vuon Trau burst into joy at the reunification of the country.
The work affirms that anyone, even an ordinary citizen, can become a hero when standing up to fight for their homeland and country. This is also a tribute to the anonymous people who contributed to making history.
Le Tu and Phuong Loan in the play "People on the outskirts" re-produced by Tran Huu Trang Theater
PHOTO: HK
With the skillful adaptation of Nguyen Gia Nghiem, the play has retained the spirit and rhythm of spoken drama, while blending in the lyrical features typical of reformed opera, creating a work that is both majestic and profound.
The appeal of The People on the Edge of the City also comes from a cast of famous artists such as Thanh Duoc, Ut Tra On, Ut Bach Lan, Phuong Lien, Nam Hung... Many of them have had memorable roles. Thanh Duoc as Bay Don, Ut Tra On as Tam Khoe, with their warm, lyrical and strong voices, successfully portrayed the image of the resilient and emotional Southern farmer. Phuong Lien and Nam Hung created heroic and tragic highlights, taking the audience through every range of emotions, from pride to the pain of loss. Ut Bach Lan as Mrs. Bay Don, Thanh Thanh Hoa as Secretary Ha and other talented artists touched people's hearts with their gentle yet resolute singing and acting.
ENDURANCE
The vitality of The Suburban People has lasted for nearly half a century. The play has been re-produced many times, from large stages to performances in remote areas. During the Tran Huu Trang seasons, many young actors also chose excerpts from this play to compete.
In 2024, on the occasion of the anniversary of the country's reunification, the play was re-produced by Tran Huu Trang Opera House with young artists Le Tu, Vo Minh Lam, Phuong Loan, Minh Truong, Le Hong Tham... singing and acting very maturely. Especially Le Tu and Vo Minh Lam played the role of the old man excellently. Le Tu had played the role of the old man before, and Vo Minh Lam was a real surprise. Playing the role of the old man is difficult for young actors, and playing a revolutionary character is even more difficult, this is a challenge for the inner strength of the artist. It is these types of characters that help you practice your craft very firmly.
Director - Meritorious Artist Hoa Ha breathed life into the new version with modern, powerful staging, creating a stage that is close to today's audience. "The revolutionary fighting space has receded quite far, and without the color of ancient costumes, it is very difficult to attract young audiences. But with such a good script, the director and actors still have plenty of creativity. How to convey the indomitable fire of the nation into young hearts, that is our responsibility", said director Hoa Ha. (to be continued)
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khuc-trang-ca-cua-long-yeu-nuoc-nguoi-ven-do-noi-long-dan-18-thon-vuon-trau-185250428203224245.htm
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