Philosophical plays enjoy enduring popularity.

For a long time, the theater scene in Ho Chi Minh City has largely consisted of comedies, romantic dramas, horror, or plays with light, relatable themes—generally easy to watch and suitable for a wide audience. However, interestingly, there is a distinct genre that attracts a significant audience: plays with a strong philosophical focus.

Remarkable vitality

First, we must mention the Idecaf theater with plays like "The Miracle" or "The Twelve Midwives," due to the remarkable enduring popularity of these plays.

The play "12 Midwives," which premiered 22 years ago (2003), has been restaged a total of four times at the Ben Thanh Theater, Idecaf Stage, and Thanh Nien Theater, with different casts of artists each time, but it has always been a sell-out. The play, with its folk elements, is grand and vibrant, lively and humorous, and features renowned artists, attracting audiences of all ages, from intellectuals to ordinary people, as each audience finds its own unique appeal. But hidden behind it all is a philosophical message. The midwives can only mold half of a person; the other half is shaped and educated by life. Reflecting on this, each of us is only given certain qualities by our parents; the rest is influenced by real life experiences.

Hoa Hiep ( left ) and Meritorious Artist Dieu Duc in the play "Hello, God"

The play "Miracle" (later restaged under the title " Hello, God" ) is a philosophical reflection on life and death. Two young men are admitted to the hospital but are given the wrong medical records. While the wealthy young man indulges in his remaining days of pleasure, the other pursues his dream projects, bringing benefits to the people. This makes Death reconsider. The play reminds us to cherish every moment of life and to create value for the world. It has been restaged twice in 10 years and has attracted a large audience.

The Hoang Thai Thanh theater also staged the play " The Hand of Heaven," which carried an educational philosophy. A bandit leader swapped his own child with that of a scholar, hoping the child would change his life. But he didn't realize that the very child he had raised in such a wicked way would kill his own son, who had been raised well and educated by the scholar. He forgot the saying, "The sins of the father are visited upon the son," meaning that even if he cheated, heaven and earth and the law of karma would still prevail. This play was highly invested in, serious, and popular for 10 years.

Stage 5B also prompted viewers to reflect with the play "Money Is Number One ." The couple, despite their poverty, maintained happiness and integrity, but after winning the lottery and becoming wealthy and successful in business, their character suddenly changed, becoming deceitful and cruel. Money is indeed necessary, but each person must have the ability to control it; otherwise, being controlled by money will lead to negative consequences. The play was staged in a charming and relatable way.

The Youth World Theatre also has a thought-provoking play called "Who's Sober Here? ". It depicts a psychiatric hospital with patients who have been betrayed in love, pursued by debt, or addicted to drugs… They are treated with compassion and become kind, virtuous individuals true to their pure nature. Conversely, outside, there are people who are perfectly sane but are severely "sick" due to love, money, fame, envy… They are "sick" but are unaware of it, and sink deeper into suffering.

Artists are "thinking" more.

The Thien Dang Theatre, though only a little over a year old, has already staged two rather weighty philosophical plays. " The Fateful Ferry, " with its Buddhist concept of "reaching the other shore," reminds us that to live a peaceful life, we must let go of the things that bind us. "The Thirteen Masters" also philosophizes about humanity. Even though humans are shaped by deities in heaven who oversee emotions and psychology, they are still influenced by their upbringing upon reincarnation. These two plays are certainly not easy to watch, but with the excellent skills of the cast, including Thanh Loc, Huu Chau, and Le Khanh, Thien Dang Theatre is always sold out.

Luong The Thanh ( left ) and Meritorious Artist Huu Chau in the play "The Fateful Ferry Trip".

PHOTO: HK

Meritorious Artist Huu Chau said: "We tend to think audiences are easygoing, but in reality, they are very discerning. Each genre of drama has its own audience; the way we stage a play will determine the audience we have. Some people have even watched 'The Fateful Ferry' three times, saying that each time they discover different aspects, understand more layers of meaning, which is very interesting. As artists, we also enjoy performing such challenging plays, which require deep analysis and a lot of brainstorming to understand and feel, and when we see the audience appreciating them as kindred spirits, we are incredibly happy."

Actor Hoa Hiep, who plays the spoiled rich kid in the play "Hello, God ," shared: "When performing a play with philosophical themes, you naturally have to think deeply about it, accepting longer rehearsals and more difficult performances, but that's the kind of training you need in this profession. In my opinion, even though the plays are deeply philosophical, the theaters in Ho Chi Minh City stage them in a very realistic and humorous way, so the audience can easily empathize."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/kich-triet-ly-an-khach-ben-bi-185250421235248314.htm